In this post from Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati, we are going to discuss the two lumps of soft tissue in the back of the throat—the tonsils.
Your tonsils sit at the base of the tongue, one on each side. They are small masses of lymphoid tissue. As such, they are part of your immune system.
Tonsils are made of infection-fighting tissue known as lymphocytes, but, in many cases, tonsils aren’t really that efficient at their job of germ killing and ridding the body of toxins.
Bacteria, mucus, and dead cells can get trapped on the outside of your tonsils. If this debris accumulates and becomes concentrated, white formations can occur in the pockets. In rare cases, it hardens and becomes a tonsil stone or tonsillolith.
Signs of tonsil infection include:
- Bad breath
- Sore throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Ear painSwelling of tonsils
Some people have persistent tonsil infections that eventually require surgical removal of the tonsils. Young children may have difficulty describing where the pain is coming from. If your child has frequent sore throats, have your pediatrician check their tonsils.
At Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati we want the best possible dental health for all of our valued patients. We offer complete family dentistry. Patients from Montgomery, Blue Ash, and Kenwood also come to us for TMJ/TMD treatment, and much more. Schedule an appointment today!
Contact Endres Gateway Dentistry:
513-791-8880
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
9380 Montgomery Rd Ste 204
Montgomery, OH
45242