Of all the physical afflictions that man suffers, having tonsil stones is probably one of the most concealed kinds.
We rarely hear friends or family talking about the presence of small, off-white and smelly chunks inside the crevices of their tonsils.
For some reason, people find it hard to admit that they carry around, in their mouths, these disgusting stones.
So unheard of, this phenomenon of tonsil stones is, that most doctors misdiagnose it as tonsillitis or infection of the tonsils.
The stones, when stuck deep into tonsillar crevices, resemble the whitish material that indicates tonsillitis.
However, the swelling, which is typical in tonsillitis cases, is not present.
But still, some doctors who do not want to risk letting patients off the hook, prescribe antibiotics to "combat" the "perceived infection".
But we all know that this would not work since the presence of tonsillar stones is not a symptom of infection - the stones are simply calcified bodies lodged inside tonsillar holes.
Living with tonsil stones can be rougher than most of us think.
Although the effects of the stones are relatively minor - like slight discomfort when swallowing, experiencing an odd sensation of having a foreign body in the throat - the stones can still be very detrimental to a person's lifestyle.
The stones are notorious for their very bad smell, and since they are positioned near the windpipe, the odor they give off blends with a person's breath.
But do not fret just yet.
The stones can be removed.
Books and the Internet can be good resources for do-it-yourself solutions.