In decades past, doctors performed more tonsillectomies on youngsters. If you were a child with frequent sore throats, “getting your tonsils out” was a rite of passage.
A tonsillectomy was once a common procedure to treat infection and inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis). Today, a tonsillectomy is usually performed for sleep-disordered breathing but may still be a treatment when tonsillitis occurs frequently or doesn’t respond to other treatments. Mayo Clinic
In this article from us at Ritchie Dental Group in Marble Falls and Brady TX we will talk about tonsil infections.
Your tonsils sit at the base of the tongue, one on each side. They are small masses of lymphoid tissue.. As such, they are part of your immune system.
Tonsils are made of infection-fighting tissue known as lymphocytes, but, in many cases, tonsils aren’t really that successful at their job of germ killing and ridding the body of toxins. Adenoids are made up of similar tissue but are located behind the nasal cavity.
Tonsils have many areas where dead cells, mucus, and bacteria can become trapped. If this debris accumulates and becomes concentrated, white formations can occur. In rare cases, it hardens and becomes a tonsil stone or tonsillolith.
Tonsil infection is characterized by:
Bad breath
Sore throat
Difficulty swallowing
Ear pain
Swelling of tonsils
Some children have persistent tonsil infections that eventually require surgical removal of the tonsils. If your child complains of throat pain, it’s vital to discuss treatment with your dentist or doctor.
If your son or daughter has frequent sore throats, ask your physician to check their tonsils. Young children may have difficulty describing where the pain is coming from.
Regular visits with a pediatrician are for your child. Regular dental check-ups are just as critical. Your pediatric dentist can determine if the mouth pain is the result of a sore throat or dental issue. Come check us out. We at Ritchie Dental Group in Marble Falls and Brady TX serve patients from Burnet, Kingsland, and Meadowlakes and also perform cosmetic dentistry and restorations.
