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What Are Cryptic Tonsils?

The tonsils are lymphatic pieces of tissue flanking either side of the back of the throat. Rather than having a completely smooth surface, they are pitted. When those pits or holes become enlarged and collect bacteria, the condition is referred to as cryptic tonsils.

  1. Tonsil Stones

    • A sign of cryptic tonsils is small white or gray deposits that can collect inside the tonsils. These are bacterial deposits called tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths. They are generally harmless, but can be quite bothersome due to the foreign body sensation they create. Also, they have a bad odor due to their sulfur and bacteria content.

    How to Keep Tonsils Healthy

    • If you have large crypts in your tonsils, it is important to have proper oral hygiene to prevent tonsil infection. Gargling with warm salt water and using an antibacterial rinse can help maintain healthy tonsils.

    Pus on the Tonsils

    • If you have pus forming on one of your tonsils, it can be a sign of a more serious condition known as tonsillar abscess. This is an infection that must be treated immediately by your physician.

    Strep Throat

    • Enlarged cryptic tonsils can also be prone to common bacterial infections such as strep throat. If you have a fever and sore throat with spots on your tonsils, you should consult your doctor and take a full course of antibiotics. Untreated strep throat has been associated with heart valve disorders.

    Tonsillectomy

    • Tonsillectomy, which is the surgical removal of the tonsils by an otolaryngologist, is a last resort for severely enlarged or frequently infected tonsils. If you have recurrent infections in your throat, large tonsils blocking your airway or a severe abscess, you may be a candidate for this procedure.

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