What Do Tonsil Stones Look Like?
Ear, Nose, & ThroatTonsil Stones

What Do Tonsil Stones Look Like?

What Do Tonsil Stones Look Like?
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Updated on April 1, 2026
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Discomfort in the back of your throat, with or without bad breath, despite regular brushing and flossing, may indicate a range of conditions, including strep throat or tonsillitis (an infection of the tonsils). But if you notice that you also have yellow-whitish bumps on your tonsils, it’s likely you have tonsil stones.

Understandably, the sight of these bumps growing in the back of your mouth can be a cause of concern and alarm. “People may think it’s an infection or a growth of some kind,” says Jennifer Setlur, MD, an otolaryngologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston.

Tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths or tonsilliths, are actually deposits that can form in the crevices and pits on the surface of the tonsils. This typically results from the buildup of food particles, bacteria, or other debris.

 Fortunately, they are usually harmless.

What Do Tonsil Stones Look and Smell Like?

Tonsil stones form when food particles, saliva, plaque, and cellular debris (such as the lining of the mouth) build up, says Setlur.

What Do Tonsil Stones Look Like?

They appear as pale yellow, pastel-colored masses and can be spongy or hard like stone. While they’re usually about the size of a small piece of gravel, in less common instances, tonsil stones can grow much larger without treatment.

You may sometimes spit these up.

How Big Do Tonsil Stones Grow?

“Most are small, but some can grow to a size almost as big as the tonsil itself,” says Aaron Thatcher, MD, pediatric otolaryngologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and assistant professor of clinical otolaryngology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

When they become very large, they can cause breathing or swallowing problems.

What Do Tonsil Stones Smell Like?

Tonsil stones can smell unpleasant, which is why an unfortunate effect of tonsil stones can be bad breath.

“The bacteria produce sulfur compounds, which can cause odor,” says Thatcher.

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How to Prevent Tonsil Stones

Learn practical steps to prevent tonsil stones. Start your journey to a healthier mouth today!

Other Symptoms of Tonsil Stones

You may experience one or more of these symptoms if you have tonsil stones:

  • Chronic bad breath
  • Persistent sore throat
  • Sensation of a foreign object in the back of your throat
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Pain
  • Cough
  • Earache
  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Throat infections that can be challenging to treat with antibiotics

One of the most common ways people find out they have tonsil stones is by spotting these growths while looking in the mirror. “You may notice them when flossing your teeth,” Dr. Setlur says.

But in other cases, tonsil stones are not readily visible. Sometimes the formations may be too small to see with your naked eye, or they may be buried too deep in the tonsillar tissue, explains Thatcher.

“Some people may learn they have tonsil stones after going to the doctor or dentist because of their bad breath,” says Dr. Thatcher.

However, not everyone with tonsil stones experiences bad breath or any symptoms at all, especially when they’re small, according to a 2021 case study.

The lack of symptoms by many people may mean this condition is much more prevalent (and underdiagnosed) than we realize, says Thatcher. But if tonsil stones don’t affect your daily life, you may not need to seek medical attention. They often fall out without treatment. Tonsil stones are also not contagious.

If you suspect that you have tonsil stones, or if you see growths on your tonsils that look like they may be tonsil stones, you should see your doctor to get a diagnosis and discuss your treatment options.

“Typically, people will see a primary care physician or dentist first,” says Setlur. But you may be referred to an otolaryngologist if your doctor or dentist suggests the stones should be removed by a specialist.

How Common Are Tonsil Stones?

Recent research has suggested that tonsil stones are much more common than previously thought and might be getting more common.

For example, a 2024 study estimates that approximately 20 percent of adults have tonsilloliths. However, the author cited a recent review of head and throat computed tomography (CT) scans that found tonsil stones in approximately 46 percent of the scans. The study suggests that the increasing rate of tonsil stone development may be due to the decreasing rate of people who undergo surgery to remove the tonsils, or tonsillectomy.

When to See a Doctor

While tonsil stones usually do not pose a serious risk to your health, there are symptoms that can mean you need more urgent medical attention.

Call your doctor if you see any of these symptoms, which may be an indication of a medical problem that may require treatment, such as infection or cancer:

  • Tonsils that are inflamed or look very red
  • Pus coming from the tonsil or area around it, forming white or yellow patches on the tonsils
  • Problems swallowing
  • Pain (especially if it’s more on one side than the other)
  • Fever
  • A persistent sore throat
  • Breathing problems
  • A scratchy or throaty voice
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
  • Stomachache
  • Headache
  • Neck stiffness or pain
  • Blood in the saliva

  • Difficulty speaking or chewing

  • A tonsil that’s larger on one side than the other

  • A lump in the neck

Common Questions

What are tonsil stones?
Tonsil stones are deposits that can form in the crevices and pits on the surface of the tonsils due to the buildup of food particles, bacteria, or debris.

Symptoms include chronic bad breath, visible pale-yellow or white deposits on the tonsils, persistent sore throat, sensation of a foreign object in the throat, trouble swallowing, pain, cough, earache, persistent infection, or a bad taste in the mouth.

Tonsil stones look like pastel-colored pale-yellow masses. They can smell unpleasant due to the production of sulfur compounds by bacteria.
Tonsil stones may be more common than previously thought. Studies suggest that up to 46 percent of patients and 20 percent of the general population may have tonsilloliths.
No, tonsil stones are not contagious. They cannot transmit to someone through kissing, sharing utensils, or drinking from the same cup.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Tonsil Stones. Cleveland Clinic. January 7, 2024.
  2. Vang P. All About Tonsil Stones. Mayo Clinic. May 20, 2024.
  3. What You Need to Know About Tonsil Stones. Campbell County Health. June 1, 2023.
  4. Tonsil Stones. American Family Physician. January 2023.
  5. Shikino K et al. Tonsillolith. Clinical Case Reports. June 22, 2021.
  6. Dilkes M. Tonsil Stones: A Clinical Update. Dental Health. November 2024.
  7. Tonsillitis. Mayo Clinic. August 12, 2025.
  8. Tonsil Cancer. Cedars-Sinai.
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Jessica Lee, MD

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Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Jessica Lee, MD, practices general otolaryngology at Charleston ENT and Allergy in South Carolina. After several years in clinical and surgical practice, Dr. Lee wanted to learn mo...
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Katherine Lee

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Katherine Lee is a writer and editor who specializes in health, science, and parenting content. She has written for Verywell, where she covered school-age parenting, and worked as ...

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