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Caseum, also called caseum or tonsil caseum, are small white balls that can appear in the throat and that happen due to the accumulation of food debris, saliva and cells in the mouth, being responsible for bad breath, sore throat and, in some cases, difficulty swallowing.
This situation is more frequent in adults who have frequent tonsillitis, and it is recommended to gargle with warm water and s alt, about two to three times a day, to favor the elimination of caseum and relieve discomfort and discomfort. bad breath.
When caseum is frequent and occurs due to chronic tonsillitis, surgery may be necessary to remove the tonsils.
Main symptoms
The tonsil caseum corresponds to small white or yellow balls that can appear attached to the tonsil. In addition, other signs and symptoms that may arise are:
- Pain when swallowing;
- Bad breath;
- Sore throat;
- Difficulty swallowing;
- Swelling of the tonsils;
- Earache, in some cases;
- Change of flavor;
- Snoring;
- Feeling of something in the throat.
In the presence of these signs and symptoms, it is important that the otorhinolaryngologist is consulted in order to identify a factor that favors the appearance of caseum and the best form of treatment.
Causes of tonsil caseum
Caseum formation can happen due to the accumulation of food residues in the tonsils, favoring the proliferation of microorganisms, leading to inflammation of the tonsil and forming the caseum.
Some of the factors that can increase the chance of caseum formation are poor oral hygiene, use of drugs that cause dry mouth, rhinitis and sinusitis, since in these situations there is greater accumulation of mucus, which can also constitute the caseum.
How the treatment is done
In most cases, caseum does not need treatment, because it can naturally detach itself from the tonsils, and can be swallowed by the person without being noticed. However, treatment may be recommended when there is pain, discomfort or bad breath due to caseum.
Thus, the treatment of tonsil caseum can be done at home by gargling with saline solutions or mouthwashes, or using natural solutions with antiseptic properties. Signs of improvement in caseum can take up to 3 days to appear and include a decrease in the number of lumps in the throat and a reduction in bad breath.
Some ways to handle the caseum are:
1. Gargle with warm s alt water or mouthwash
To gargle with warm water and s alt, simply mix a glass of warm water with a tablespoon of s alt and gargle for about 30 seconds, 2-3 times a day.
As an alternative to saline solution, gargling can also be done with an oral rinse, which should not contain alcohol, as this substance increases the dryness and dehydration of the oral mucosa, increasing the desquamation of cells, which leads to an increase in the formation of caseum. The mouthwash must also contain oxygenating substances, in order to prevent the development of anaerobic bacteria, which contribute to the formation of caseous and bad breath.
However, if these treatments do not relieve symptoms after 5 days, it may be necessary to consult a dentist and, in cases where caseum is more frequent, an otolaryngologist.
2. Removal with a cotton swab
You can also try to remove the stones with the help of a cotton swab, pressing gently on the regions of the amygdala where the stones are lodged. Do not exert too much force to avoid damaging the tissues and, in the end, the ideal is to gargle with water and s alt or with a suitable rinse.
However, this technique is not often recommended as it can damage the tonsil tissue, and should not be performed on children.
3. Home remedies
Natural home remedies have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to prevent the formation of white balls and relieving the symptoms of caseum.
One option is pomegranate and propolis mouthwash, which is also a natural antibiotic. To make this rinse, just add 20 grams of pomegranate leaves and flowers and 3 drops of propolis in 2 cups of boiling water and let it cool. Then, gargle for 30 seconds up to 5 times a day.
Another option is to drink or gargle with plantain tea, as this medicinal plant has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and astringent properties, helping to treat caseous disease. To make the tea, just add 10 grams of plantain leaves in 500 ml of boiling water and let it rest for about 15 minutes. Then filter and drink about 3 cups of the tea a day.
If there is no improvement in the first few days of using these home remedies, it is recommended to consult the dentist or otolaryngologist so that a physical evaluation can be carried out and the most appropriate treatment can be started.
4. Surgery
Surgery is only indicated by the doctor when home measures are not enough, when there is constant development of tonsillitis, when the person feels very uncomfortable or suffers from halitosis that cannot be treated with other measures.
In these cases, the surgery used is tonsillectomy, which consists of removing both tonsils. The postoperative period is not always easy, as patients can remain with a lot of sore throat and ears for several days. Another option is the use of laser, which is a technique known as tonsillar cryptolysis and which closes the cavities of the tonsils, which are a kind of holes, preventing the formation and accumulation of yellow balls in the throat.
