You have probably heard of or even noticed some little white masses that form on the tonsils. Looking like lumps and with a soft texture, they are called tonsillar cheesus or caseum, and accumulate in the crypts of the tonsils, which are nothing more than small holes in the tissue.

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How do tonsillar cysts form?

The crypts are part of the tonsils; however, some people have more and larger crypts. "This characteristic favors the accumulation of food and saliva residues, which become food for the bacteria naturally present in the mouth. As these microorganisms consume the residues, the masses are formed", explains Roberto Beck, endocrinologist at CareClub.

Is tonsillar cyst bad for your health?

Having one or more nodules is not a problem when there is no inflammatory condition, such as tonsillitis. Tonsil infection, especially if bacterial, presents risks if not properly treated. One of them is the danger of the infection spreading to other sites. However, in the absence of these circumstances, the body can react against the cyst and generate an inflammation around it, which causesIn addition, tonsillar cysts are usually foul-smelling, because they are leftover food fermented by bacteria, so it is not uncommon to suffer bad breath if the masses recur.

How to treat tonsillar cyst?

Most cysts detach themselves from the tonsils, but when this doesn't happen, Beck explains that the best way to remove the tonsillar cyst is with the help of a cotton swab: "Just press carefully around the area to remove it.

However, there are individuals who face repeated episodes of tonsillitis, which, as we have seen, can influence the appearance of caesium if it is associated with larger crypt size. "There are two alternatives. The first, called cryptolysis, consists of using a laser to reduce the size of the crypt of the tonsil. However, this type of treatment is not usually very effective. If the tonsils arelarge and easily inflamed, the best solution is to remove them by surgery", suggests Beck.

Situations that favor the accumulation of debris in the tonsils

We've already seen that poor hygiene and infections in the tonsils are fertile ground for cough. However, medication use, rhinitis, and sinusitis can also be responsible for the production of the slimy, smelly substance. After all, the mucus excreted by the airways and remnants of medication can settle in the crypts and become substrate for bacteria.

Source: Roberto Beck, otorhinolaryngologist at the Care Club clinic, in São Paulo (SP); and assistant physician at the Otorhinolaryngology Department, HC-FMUSP.