But which one should you use?
As you may not expect, not any old mouthwash will work. There are a few specific ones that work best and some that will actually make the problem worse. So you need to be careful when you're picking one out.
In this post I'll you what to look out for when shopping and a couple of homemade options that have proved very effective.
What to look for
When you're looking out for a mouthwash in the supermarket, make sure you check the label. You want the mouthwash to contain Zinc Compounds and Chlorine Dioxide. These help fight off and kill sulfur producing bacteria that is found underneath and around your tongue.
Therefore, a mouthwash such as this will help mask bad breath that you may be experiencing because of your tonsil stones. It'll only give momentary relief (about 2-3 hours depending on what you've eaten) but it's well worth it.
Also make sure the mouthwash doesn't contain any alcohol. This will reduce your saliva levels which allows the bacteria I mentioned above to thrive and do what it wants - basically making tonsil stones and producing sulfur.
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV has been known to have many health benefits and some of them are helping treat, prevent and aid symptoms caused by tonsil stones. This is due to its antibacterial and probiotic properties.
This is actually one of my favorite methods so I highly recommend you try it out. Its a great alternative to commercial mouthwashes if you want to keep costs down (I would check Amazon for best prices).
What you is mix 1-2 teaspoons to 8 ounces of clean water. Take a sip, tilt your head back and gargle the mixture so it reaches your tonsils. Do so for 15 seconds and then repeat with the rest of the glass.
Do this a few times per day and you'll make it much more likely that the tonsil stones won't grow back.
Salt water
This works in a similar way to ACV, but it can be seen as a little less effective - however it will be cheaper!
It helps fight against the sulfur producing bacteria so by gargling it you'll therefore make it less likely to produce tonsil stones. Also, the act of gargling could help knock out a few stones that you may not have noticed.
Use it in the exact way as you would with ACV (shown above) and you'll make it much less likely for tonsil stones to regrow.
Conclusion
If you're suffering from tonsil stones then please take advantage of one of these mouthwashes. They're all effective, just choose one that suits you best and work it into your daily schedule.
By combining this with good overall oral health practices (brushing/flossing teeth 3-4 times per day) then you can pretty much guarantee that you will get rid of tonsil stones for good.
