The deposits which are made from calcium salts, bacteria and mucus which can collect on the soft tissue of the tonsils.
They are usually white, yellow or even grey in colour. They are often not visible even when a person’s mouth is wide open.
Tonsil stones are not serious and won’t usually affect a person’s health – although the stones can be irritating and can cause bad breath.
If tonsil stones get too big, they can cause difficulty swallowing and can even cause a sore throat.
The stones, however, are not thought to be linked to other calcifications in the body, such as kidney stones.
The tonsils are two small glands that sit on either side of the throat. The glands help fight infection but can also trap food particles.
People can try to dislodge the stones with a toothbrush while cleaning their teeth or even gargle with salt water.
However it is widely believed adding apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and gargling with the mixture could also help get rid of tonsil stones.
Apple cider vinegar can help get rid of tonsil stones, as it contains acid, according to Dr Diane Puttman, writing for tonsilstones.com.
She said the acid in the vinegar will break down those stones and hard depositis in the mouth.
She said people can use white wine vinegar in water instead of apple cider vinegar to soften the stones.
Apple cider vinegar is also used a remedy against tonsillitus and many people swear by the natural remedy as a weight loss technique.
Bad breath
The British Dental Association states: “Tonsils may, on occasion, be responsible for oral odour.
“Tonsil stones (tonsilloliths), consisting of partially calcified debris and rich in anaerobic bacteria, may develop in tonsillar crypts, and be released into the oral cavity.
“Although the stones themselves smell, particularly when pressed, they they do not necessarily contribute to oral malodour.”
