White Spots On Tonsils: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Risks

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat White Spots on Your Tonsils Are and When to Be Worried

Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP — Written by Neel Duggal — Updated on June 6, 2025

Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Takeaway

White spots on your tonsils are often a sign of an infection, like strep throat or tonsillitis. Depending on the exact cause, you may need antibiotics. Talk with a healthcare professional right away if the spots are accompanied by pain or a fever.

If you suddenly see white spots on your tonsils, you might be concerned. However, in many cases, you can easily treat the underlying cause and avoid surgical removal of the tonsils.

Keep reading to learn more about the possible causes of white spots on the tonsils, as well as treatment options and more.

What are the symptoms of having white spots on your tonsils?

White discoloration may appear only on the tonsils or it may appear around the tonsils and throughout the mouth. The discoloration may look like streaks in the back of the throat or blotches on or around the tonsils.

In addition to the white spots, your tonsils may feel scratchy and you might find it difficult to swallow.

Other symptoms that often accompany white spots on the tonsils include:

sneezing
a sore throat
coughing
a fever
painful swallowing
throat discomfort
a stuffy nose
a headache
body aches and pains
swelling of the lymph nodes
bad breath

What causes white spots on your tonsils?

White spots on the tonsils often occur due to an infection in the throat. Whiteness in your throat can have several possible causes.

Infectious mononucleosis

The Epstein-Barr virus causes infectious mononucleosis, or mono. It’s an infection that spreads through saliva, which is why it’s sometimes called “the kissing disease.”

People who develop mono will frequently experience white patches of pus around the tonsils. Other symptoms include:

flu-like symptoms
headaches
fevers
body rashes
swollen lymph nodes
fatigue

Also, if penicillin family antibiotics are prescribed for mono, they may cause a rash.

Strep throat

Strep throat, or streptococcal pharyngitis, is a contagious disease. The bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes causes it. It’s most common in children, but it frequently occurs in teenagers and adults as well.

It causes white streaks or spots in the throat. Other symptoms of strep throat include:

weakness
fatigue
inflammation and swelling of the throat
difficulty swallowing
a fever
a headache
flu-like symptoms

The bacteria often spread through contact with droplets from someone else’s sneezes or coughs.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is a general term that refers to an infection of the tonsils. This infection usually occurs due to a viral infection, especially in adults, but bacteria can also cause it.

When your tonsils try to fight the infection, they swell and can produce white pus. Other symptoms of tonsillitis include:

a fever
a sore throat
difficulty swallowing
a headache

Oral thrush

Oral thrush is a yeast infection that occurs in your mouth. The fungus Candida albicans is the most common cause.

People with suppressed immune systems are at increased risk of yeast infections in the mouth. People who have been on antibiotics or who have unmanaged diabetes are also at increased risk. It can also be caused by using inhaled steroids without a spacer or rinsing.

The white patches can also appear on the inside of the cheeks, on the tongue, and on the roof of the mouth.

Tonsil stones

Tonsil stones, or tonsiliths, are calcium deposits that form in small crevices in the tonsils (called crypts). They occur due to a buildup of food particles, mucus, and bacteria. They may appear as white or sometimes yellow spots on the tonsils.

Additional symptoms include:

bad breath
a sore throat
a sensation of a foreign body in the throat
difficulty swallowing if the tonsil stones are large

Does COVID-19 cause white spots on your tonsils?

COVID-19 may cause ulcerative lesions in the mouth or throat, according to some case studies.

The lesions may be an early symptom of COVID-19. Some people who have them may be otherwise asymptomatic, but most people experience other COVID-19 symptoms such as fever and coughing.

If you have a sore throat or other symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting tested to rule out COVID-19.

Can white spots on your tonsils be an STD?

Although sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) spread by oral sex generally do not cause white spots on the tonsils, the following STDS may cause sores in the throat:

Human papillomavirus (HPV): Low-risk strains of this virus may cause painless, noncancerous lesions in the throat. Ask your healthcare professional about HPV vaccination to see if this vaccine is right for you. There are high risk strains of HPV that can cause oropharyngeal cancer, which can look like a lesion.
Chlamydia: Although it’s rare, chlamydia may cause mouth sores that don’t heal.

Wearing a condom or other barrier lowers the risk of transmitting or contracting an oral STD.

Other causes

Less common causes of white spots on the tonsils include:

leukoplakia, which is considered precancerous
oral cancer

What are the risk factors of white spots on your tonsils?

People with a weakened immune system are at an increased risk of white spots on the tonsils.

Other risk factors depend on the specific condition. For example, being in close quarters, such as in a school or childcare facility, can increase your risks of strep throat and mono.

How are white spots on your tonsils diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask about your other symptoms and will likely run a swab over the white spots on your tonsils.

They’ll then test the swab to see if the sample contains any pathogens. They’ll also perform a physical exam and gently feel your lymph nodes to see if they’re swollen or tender.

Your test results will help your doctor determine which medication, if any, is best suited to treat your condition.

What’s the treatment for white spots on your tonsils?

Your treatment will depend on the cause of the white spots.

For infectious mononucleosis

Doctors don’t usually prescribe medications to treat mono. Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids for severe inflammation, as well as over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as ibuprofen.

Your best course of treatment will be good home care. Get plenty of rest and fluids while the infection runs its course. Avoid contact sports if your spleen is enlarged.

For strep throat

Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), to reduce swelling and pain.

In addition to taking medication, get a lot of rest. You may also try gargling warm salt water, which can help reduce swelling and pain.

For oral thrush

Doctors usually prescribe antifungal medications to treat thrush.

Gargling salt water and rinsing your mouth with water may help prevent the yeast from spreading beyond your mouth.

For tonsil stones

Treatment for tonsil stones usually isn’t necessary unless the discomfort is extreme. Your body will naturally eliminate the stones.

You can try at-home methods such as eating crackers or other crunchy foods.

For severe inflammation

If your tonsils are chronically inflamed, your doctor might recommend removing them.

This procedure is called a tonsillectomy. It’s typically only done after other treatments have failed to reduce inflammation in the tonsils. Your doctor wouldn’t use it just to treat white spots.

Tonsillectomies are ideally performed after any illness is resolved. On rare occasions, they may be performed while you have an infection, but there is a greater risk of bleeding.

Tonsillectomies are usually an outpatient procedure. After the surgery, you’ll likely have a sore throat for 1 to 2 weeks.

Other treatments

Other universal treatments you can try include:

Gargle warm, salty water for 10 to 15 seconds.
Drink warm fluids without caffeine, such as chicken broth or hot herbal tea with honey.
Avoid pollutants, such as cigarette smoke and car exhaust.
Use a humidifier to help relieve a dry throat.

Takeaway

White spots on your tonsils could have many different causes. Usually, the conditions causing whiteness in the throat can be managed easily either with medications prescribed by a doctor or with home therapies, such as gargling salt water, getting plenty of rest, or drinking warm liquids.

The treatment will depend on the cause. In extreme or recurrent cases, a doctor might recommend removal of the tonsils.

Make an appointment with a doctor if you’ve had the white spots for several days, if they are very painful, or if they make it difficult for you to swallow. You may have an infection that requires medical treatment. You may be able to have an initial telehealth appointment, but your doctor will likely need to swab your throat to help identify what is causing the whit spots on your tonsils.

If you’re also having trouble breathing, seek immediate medical attention because you’re at risk of an airway obstruction.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

About infectious mononucleosis (mono). (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about/mononucleosis.html
About strep throat. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/about/strep-throat.html
Abu-Naser SS, et al. (2016). An expert system for mouth problems in infants and children.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301886798_An_Expert_System_for_Mouth_Problems_in_Infants_and_Children
Alfayez A, et al. (2018). A giant tonsillolith.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5938656/
COVID-19: Self-testing at home or anywhere. (2024).https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?q=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/self-testing.html&start=0&rows=10&url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/self-testing.html
Oral thrush in adults. (2023).https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/oral-thrush-in-adults/
Tonsillitis. (2017).https://medlineplus.gov/tonsillitis.html
Sexually transmitted diseases and your mouth. (n.d.).https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/sexually-transmitted-diseases
Wu Y-H, et al. (2021). Review of oral ulcerative lesions in COVID-19 patients: A comprehensive study of 51 cases.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1991790221001458

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Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP — Written by Neel Duggal — Updated on June 6, 2025

White Spots On Tonsils: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Risks

What are the symptoms of having white spots on your tonsils?

What causes white spots on your tonsils?

Infectious mononucleosis

Strep throat

Tonsillitis

Oral thrush

Tonsil stones

Does COVID-19 cause white spots on your tonsils?

Can white spots on your tonsils be an STD?

Other causes

What are the risk factors of white spots on your tonsils?

How are white spots on your tonsils diagnosed?

What’s the treatment for white spots on your tonsils?

For infectious mononucleosis

For strep throat

For oral thrush

For tonsil stones

For severe inflammation

Other treatments

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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