DEAR DR. GOTT: For many years, I suffered with horrible breath, despite having had only one cavity in 40-plus years and brushing/flossing/tongue scraping/gargling constantly. I read every article I could find on bad breath but not one ever mentioned cryptic tonsils. I finally ended up with a doctor who figured out what those occasional smelly lumps were and had my tonsils removed. End of problem.
Please inform your readers who might be wearing out the enamel on their teeth, like me, trying to get rid of their bad breath that there may be another reason for it.
DEAR READER: Thank you for mentioning involvement of the tonsils, whose role is to filter out germs and bacteria that enter the body through the mouth and nose. Healthy tonsils are areas of pinkish tissue located in the back of the throat. When infected, they turn yellow or white. When the folds in the tonsils trap food and dead bacteria, stones can form. If this occurs often, chronic cryptic tonsils may result. This can cause bad breath because of the debris collected. There is also a possibility of a sore throat. The important thing to remember, as your doctor may have pointed out, is that bad breath (halitosis) cannot be remedied through traditional oral-cleaning processes.
Some mild cases may not require any treatment at all. Others may respond to antibiotics or occasional removal of the stones and debris along with saltwater gargles. Severe cases, such as the one you had, might even require tonsillectomy. This is because once the tonsils are removed, there is no place for debris to collect. People with the condition should follow the advice of an ear-nose-and-throat specialist to determine which course of action is appropriate.
To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “An Informed Approach to Surgery.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.
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