What Are Tonsil Stones? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment ...

Health ConditionsEar, Nose, & ThroatTonsil StonesShare this articleShare on FacebookShare on XShare on PinterestCopy LinkTonsil StonesMedically Reviewed byJessica Lee, MDon January 26, 2026Tonsil stones are small lumps of hardened calcium, other mineral salts, bacteria, and food debris that develop on the tonsils. They are usually harmless, but they may lead to foul-smelling breath and can occasionally cause discomfort. They tend to resolve without treatment, though a surgeon can remove the tonsils to treat uncomfortable stones, if necessary.

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Jessica Lee, MD

Medical Reviewer

Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle MedicineJessica 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 more about the impact of nutrition, activity, and sleep on general health and ear, nose, and throat health, so she pursued additional training in integrative, lifestyle, and functional medicine topics and became board-certified in lifestyle medicine in 2021.Her practice centers on first addressing the lifestyle causes of disease and chronic illness, with the understanding and ability to use medical and surgical care for more acute concerns. She is also the co-founder and director of the Keto Hope Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families use the ketogenic diet as medical treatment for epilepsyLee enjoys cooking, strength training, reading, and spending time with friends and family.See full bio

Justin Laube, MD

Medical Reviewer

Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.

He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.

He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.

Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.

See full bio

David L. Causey, MD

Medical Reviewer

David L. Causey, MD, is a board-certified internist who spent his medical career working in the Department of Veterans Affairs system. During his tenure, he worked in the primary care and disability evaluation divisions, piloted one of the system's first telehealth programs, and worked in the home health and hospice divisions. Prior to pursuing his medical degree, he worked in healthcare administration and as a medical writer and editor for such organizations as Healthology, Revolution Health, and Healthwise. Dr. Causey has participated in medical missions to Ghana, Tonga, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Nigeria, Brazil, Fiji, Vanuatu, Haiti, and the U.S. Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.See full bioSee Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert NetworkEDITORIAL SOURCESEveryday 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.SourcesResources

1. Tonsil Stones. Cleveland Clinic. January 7, 2024.