The bottom line is that there are three building blocks that go into the creation of the tonsil stone. Not all three have to be present in order for the stones to develop. It is not unusual for any combination of two of these elements to lead to the creation of the stones, and very common for all three elements to be present. Three is anecdotal evidence of the creation of a tonsil stone from a single element, but currently not any instances that are generally accepted by the medical community.

One of the more common elements that can go into the tonsil stone are white blood cells that are not longer alive and functioning. The natural elements that compose the white blood cells provide the basic matter that can begin to build up calcified deposits that form the basis for the tonsil stone. There are several different ideas about how the while blood cells come to collect in the area near the back portion of the mouth, and probably there is some degree of fact behind most of these theories. What is important to remember is that the presence of the raw material of these dead white blood cells can help to establish the ideal environment for the development of tonsilloliths.

A second common element that aids in the formation of the tonsil stone is oral bacteria. There is no real mystery about how bacteria can collect in the rear of the mouth and at the entryway to the throat. The simple fact is that all sorts of materials pass near and through this area. Not only is there exposure to bacteria due to food and drink, but also airborne elements that enter the area as we breathe in through our noses or mouths. Under the right conditions, oral bacteria can easily set up shop and aid the dead white blood cells in creating the tonsil stone.

Last, the tonsil stone may be helped along with an unusual degree of activity of the salivary glands. When these glands are overactive, the end result can be a proliferation of additional enzymes. These enzymes, when produced in a moderate amount, are essential for beginning the digestion process as food moves from the mouth, down the throat, and into the digestive system.

However, when too many enzymes are present, the food begins to break down too early in the process. The end result is food begins to dissolve while still in the rear of the mouth, and calcified remains tend to begin to collect in the crevasses of the tonsils. As can be imagined, any type of foreign matter present in the area can and often will lead to some sort of problems down the road.

Some people wonder just what it is in the foods that lead to these deposits of calcified matter. The answer is very simple. Carbohydrates and starches are left behind when the salivary glands are hyperactive. These two elements quickly settle into relatively hard clumps that can then be the nucleus for a tonsil stone. Persons who are lactose intolerant may find that there is a predisposition toward the development of the tonsil stone, as the elements in milk may coat the tonsils and set up a reaction that can lead to the formation of the tonsil stone.