How to rinse tonsils yourself at home

12/21/2021

79 475

17 minutes

Co-author, editor and medical expert – Maksimov Alexander Alekseevich.

Many people are familiar with the diagnosis of tonsillitis. This unpleasant disease can take you by surprise and prevent you from leading a normal life. Tonsillitis is a pressing problem today, as it can occur at any age and with various diseases, such as herpes, diphtheria, streptococcal infections, scarlet fever and others. Often tonsillitis (or simply tonsillitis) acts as an independent disease. To understand the diagnosis and begin proper treatment, you need to consult a doctor. Remember that self-medication can lead to complications. What is tonsillitis? And how to cope with this disease? We will consider the answers to these questions below.

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Is it possible to wash tonsils with an irrigator?

In this article

• Is it possible to wash tonsils with an irrigator?
• Why rinse your tonsils?
• Is it possible to rinse tonsils with an irrigator?
• Flushing the tonsils with an irrigator
• How to rinse tonsils at home with an irrigator
• When is tonsil flushing contraindicated?
• Basic recommendations: how to properly rinse tonsils at home

First, a few words about tonsils and tonsillitis. The human throat provides ideal conditions for the proliferation of fungi, viruses and bacteria. Tonsils (tonsils) protect the respiratory system from pathogenic microorganisms. They have microscopic lacunae into which food debris, dead epithelial cells and microbes fall. Tonsils are an important part of the body's immune system; they protect the lungs from infectious diseases, but at the same time become vulnerable to disease. A viral or bacterial inflammatory process in the lacunae of the tonsils causes chronic tonsillitis - a long-term inflammatory process of the pharyngeal or palatine tonsils.

This pathology can cause a person many problems, causing bad breath, fatigue, pain and sore throat. In addition, tonsillitis can cause tonsillitis and other complications. Treatment of this disease is carried out by an otolaryngologist. He prescribes a course of antibiotics and drugs for washing the tonsils.

Forms of tonsillitis

Tonsillitis (or sore throat) is an inflammation of the tonsils, often accompanies colds.

Types of sore throats

Sore throats are acute:

• Banal (vulgar or typical) tonsillitis: there are catarrhal, follicular, lacunar, mixed.
• Atypical tonsillitis: herpetic, Simanovsky-Plaut-Vincent's tonsillitis, phlegmonous, fungal and mixed forms. Usually they are severe, as they appear against the background of decreased immunity.
• Sore throats associated with infectious diseases (scarlet fever, diphtheria, sore throat due to HIV infection and others).
• Angina in blood diseases: monocytic, agranulocytic, tonsillitis in leukemia.

Tonsillitis can also be chronic (compensated and decompensated)1.

Interesting fact!

Our defense against infections is located in the pharynx - an anatomical structure consisting of lymphoid tissue. The lymphoid elements in the pharynx are located around the pharynx in the form of a ring, so it was called the “lymphadenoid pharyngeal ring” by Waldeyer-Pirogov. It is formed by two palatine tonsils (those that are sometimes called “tonsils”), one pharyngeal or nasopharyngeal (located on the back wall of the pharynx), one lingual (a collection of lymphoid follicles at the root of the tongue) and two tubal (located in the thickness of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx near the openings eustachian tubes). Tubal tonsils are most pronounced in children under 5-7 years of age, and later undergo reverse development. In adults, due to their small size, they are almost invisible.

The pharyngeal ring is an additional barrier for bacteria between the external and internal environment of the body. These structures also produce antibodies and lymphocytes - immune response cells.

Acute tonsillitis

This is an acute inflammatory disease of the palatine tonsils. Their mucous membrane becomes swollen, hyperemic, and purulent deposits may appear in the crypts of the tonsils. But depending on the factors that caused the disease and the patient’s condition, the process is not limited to damage to the tonsils alone. A severe infection can take over the entire body. The most dangerous complications are rheumatic heart defects, joint damage, kidney damage (glomerulonephritis). Therefore, self-medication can be dangerous. For correct diagnosis and effective treatment, you need to consult a specialist.

Purulent tonsillitis is one of the forms of tonsillitis and can be a complication of acute or chronic tonsillitis. It is characterized by the presence of purulent discharge in the crypts of the palatine tonsils. Most often accompanies a bacterial infection. Improper treatment can lead to chronicity of the process.

Chronic tonsillitis is a persistent chronic inflammation of the tonsils, characterized by recurrent exacerbations in the form of tonsillitis, a sluggish course, and a decrease in the body's resistance to infection. Slight hypothermia or draft causes exacerbation of tonsillitis. Many factors play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory process in the tonsils. Most often the disease occurs after repeated sore throats. Chronic tonsillitis is of two types: compensated and decompensated. This is important for further treatment tactics.

With compensated chronic tonsillitis, examination reveals some looseness of the tonsils, hyperemia, swelling, purulent plugs or plaque in the crypts of the tonsils, but this process is limited to the tonsils and does not spread beyond its boundaries. This precarious balance between local immunity and the body’s resistance on the one hand, and the presence of pathogenic organisms in the inflamed tonsils on the other, can shift towards decompensation if the course of the disease is unfavorable. With decompensated chronic damage to the lymphoid apparatus of the pharynx, local signs of chronic tonsillitis are usually clearly expressed. With this form, exacerbations often occur in the form of sore throats, peritonsillitis, peritonsillar abscesses, regional lymphadenitis, and in clinically advanced cases, disturbances in the functioning of other organs and systems (kidney pathology, formation of cardiac flow, articular syndrome, damage to the nervous system).

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Why rinse your tonsils?

Washing of the tonsils is carried out taking into account the characteristics of this organ. The tonsils are a collection of lymphoid tissue, inside of which there are small cavities and passages. They quickly fill with food debris, saliva and plaque from the teeth, which subsequently cause tonsillitis. Its manifestations can be minimized by washing the tonsils. You should contact an ENT specialist, who will prepare an antibacterial solution and carry out the procedure with a syringe or irrigator. Doing this yourself at home is dangerous, it can damage the tissue and cause complications.

The doctor may prescribe a course of physiotherapeutic procedures, the duration of which is 5-10 sessions - it all depends on the degree of the disease. When washing the tonsils, foreign substances and pus are removed from the lacunae. After several procedures, the process of self-cleaning of the tonsils begins. To avoid injury to the tonsils during tonsillitis, they can only be washed in the otolaryngologist’s office. Rinsing for the purpose of prevention is carried out at home using oral irrigators.

Symptoms of tonsillitis

Clinical manifestations are quite varied and depend on the type of tonsillitis. The disease debuts acutely, against the background of hypothermia or stress. First there is a sore throat. It may intensify when swallowing, after smoking, or eating hard, dry foods. There is a cough, a feeling of a foreign body in the throat, rawness, soreness in the throat. The body temperature rises, the patient feels weak, tired, unwell, quickly gets tired, and there is pain in the joints and muscles. Upon examination, the doctor reveals enlarged and painful submandibular and cervical lymph nodes; the pharyngoscopic picture varies from hyperemia of the tonsils to friability, purulent changes (lacunae and follicles), and enlarged tonsils. The mucous membrane becomes swollen. In the presence of purulent plaque, a characteristic unpleasant odor from the mouth may appear.

Treatment for tonsillitis depends on its type and cause. Let's look at it in detail:

Etiotropic treatment (impact on the cause of the disease) depends on the causative agent of the disease. If a sore throat is bacterial in nature and if there are indications, antibiotics are used, which are prescribed by a doctor. Self-treatment of tonsillitis with antibiotics is not recommended, since an insufficient dose or the wrong choice of drug can lead to the development of resistance (persistence) in the microorganism, as well as to complications of angina (for example, peritonsillar, retropharyngeal abscess, diphtheria croup in children, acquired heart defects). For a viral infection, symptomatic therapy is prescribed, as the patient’s general condition remains satisfactory. Physiotherapy methods are also effective: ultraviolet irradiation increases the barrier function, the resistance of the tonsils, improves, stimulates local and general immunity, and has an antimicrobial effect. Laser treatment of tonsillitis in the submandibular area is carried out daily, in a course. The therapeutic effect is achieved by dilating small blood vessels and increasing blood circulation in the area of ​​inflammation1.

Symptomatic treatment

Anti-inflammatory drugs (paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin) have proven themselves well in the treatment of tonsillitis. They reduce swelling, inflammation, and as a result, pain. Antihistamines (Zyrtec, Tavegil) and analgesics are also used. For the duration of treatment, smoking, drinking alcohol, and spicy and hot foods are excluded. A gentle diet and bed rest are prescribed for 5-7 days.

If the patient’s general condition does not suffer, we can limit ourselves to the use of local means of treating tonsillitis.

Local treatment consists of prescribing medications that have an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effect2. Drugs for local therapy should not only relieve sore throat, but also have a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity, low allergenicity, and be non-toxic.

Hexoral ® has all these properties. The drug is active against a wide range of gram-positive bacteria, as well as pathogenic fungi of the genus Candida; the drug Hexoral ® can have its effect in the treatment of infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus. At a concentration of 100 mg/ml, the drug inhibits the growth of most bacterial strains. Hexetidine, being the active ingredient of the drug Hexoral ®, also has an anesthetic effect on the mucous membrane3. The variety of dosage forms of Hexoral ® makes its use accessible to the whole family. Hexoral ® spray is a convenient, effective and proven form for the treatment of tonsillitis in adults and children from 3 years of age. The Hexoral® line also includes a rinse solution (from 3 years old), Hexoral® tabs tablets (from 4 years old), Hexoral® tabs Classic (from 6 years old), Hexoral® tabs Extra (from 12 years old) years). In the form of a rinse solution, lozenges and sprays, the medicine is convenient to use, which makes patient adherence to treatment high.

In all cases of tonsillitis, it is necessary to consult a doctor, so that only a specialist can prescribe adequate treatment and prevent complications.

Surgery

Tonsillectomy is the removal of tonsil tissue and the underlying capsule. It is used in cases of unsuccessful conservative therapy, in the presence of a focus of chronic infection in the tonsils. A tonsillectomy is performed by an ENT doctor. Before the operation, you should consult with a therapist, do blood and urine tests, perform an ECG, and a chest x-ray. If there are concomitant diseases, undergo additional examination by specialized specialists.

Tonsillectomy is usually performed under local anesthesia with the patient sitting. Local anesthesia is performed, and then the tonsils are removed along with the capsule. The operation does not last long, about 10 minutes, complications are quite rare. Indications for surgical treatment are chronic persistent inflammation of the palatine tonsils in the stage of decompensation, frequent exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis, purulent complications in the form of abscesses and phlegmon.

Contraindications for tonsillectomy are: blood diseases (hemorrhagic diathesis), neuropsychiatric diseases in the stage of decompensation, which can interfere with the course of the operation and compliance with the postoperative regimen, open form of respiratory tuberculosis, cardiac, renal failure, severe diabetes mellitus. In each specific case, the issue of performing an operation is decided individually1.

Cryotherapy is a gentle method of semi-surgical treatment. Cryotonsillotomy - exposure to the tonsils with a special applicator (cryoprobe), in a closed system of which liquid nitrogen circulates at a temperature of -196 °C4. Areas of chronic inflammation where the tonsil no longer performs its functions are removed. Since cryotherapy is painless and bloodless, it is the method of choice for weakened patients, patients with blood diseases and those for whom surgical treatment is contraindicated (allergy to novocaine, severe diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, severe heart failure, renal failure, hemophilia) and also in children. After cryodestruction, the body recovers more quickly and the patient returns to normal life. However, along with the advantages, the cryosurgical method has a number of disadvantages: several stages are assumed over 1.5 months, but in some cases it is not possible to achieve complete removal of tonsil tissue.

Contraindications to cryotherapy: decompensation of diabetes mellitus, some oncological diseases, acute myocardial infarction, high-grade heart failure, severe hypertension.

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Is it possible to rinse tonsils with an irrigator?

An oral irrigator is a device that, by supplying pulsating water, cleanses the teeth and gums of food debris. According to dentists, regular use of such devices helps prevent the development of caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and other dental diseases. The irrigator should be used as an additional hygiene product, along with a toothbrush and floss. You need to use it at least 2-3 times a week, and better yet, every evening after traditional teeth brushing.

Modern irrigators are multifunctional devices that are suitable for cleansing the oral cavity, massaging the gums and rinsing the tonsils. The device reservoir should be filled with plain water or a disinfectant solution, furatsilin and other products approved by a doctor and compatible with a specific device. Let's learn how to wash your tonsils at home using an irrigator.

What to do if it hurts after washing your tonsils

Most people experience pain after the procedure for washing the tonsils. They can be stored for up to three days. To eliminate discomfort, it is recommended to gargle with soda after rinsing the tonsils.

If the pain persists for more than three days, you should urgently visit a doctor.

Washing out gaps on your own is only possible if you are completely confident that you will be able to do everything correctly. It is unacceptable to take risks in this case, due to possible dangerous consequences.

Flushing the tonsils with an irrigator

First you need to choose a suitable irrigator model. It can be portable or stationary, pulsed or microbubble. Portable models are not suitable for washing tonsils, as they have one significant drawback - the inability to smoothly switch the water supply mode. A sudden change in pressure and jet pressure can lead to tissue injury. Therefore, it is better to choose stationary models for washing the tonsils.

They are more functional and have several operating modes, including for cleaning gums and tonsils. In addition, stationary irrigators come with several nozzles, while portable ones are sold with one, or maximum two nozzles.

The minimum value of the cleaning jet pressure created by an irrigator suitable for washing tonsils should not be more than 150 kPa. Waterpik WP-108 E2 Ultra is ideal for this procedure - a stationary device that supplies pressure from 70 to 560 kPa. There is a lever on the handle for smooth switching of modes. You need to start the procedure with the weakest pressure, gradually increasing it. The device comes complete with 7 attachments. One of them is designed to clean gum pockets. It can also be used to wash the tonsils. Two standard attachments are also suitable for this.

Another suitable irrigator that can be used to wash tonsils is available under the brand name Aquapick AQ-300. It has several operating modes and 4 attachments included. The reservoir is quite large - 600 ml. It is enough for a complete cleaning for two or three family members. This device can be mounted on the bathroom wall using a bracket. It is not cheap, but it is one of the most functional. There is also a more budget option - B.Well WI-922. This device can be used to clear tonsils, but the minimum power it produces is 200 kPa. This irrigator is not suitable for children to wash their tonsils.

Our online store offers many stationary irrigators that can be used for washing tonsils. When purchasing, consider the following indicators: jet power, minimum pressure, number of operating modes, pulsation frequency and tank volume. Now we’ll find out how to rinse your tonsils with an irrigator at home.

How to rinse tonsils at home with an irrigator

It is better to rinse the tonsils on an empty stomach in the morning, since a stream of water entering the larynx can cause vomiting. Such reflexes cease to bother you after regular procedures. The duration of rinsing the tonsils is 2-3 minutes, but you can start from 30-40 seconds until slight discomfort appears in the throat. Washing is performed according to the following algorithm:

• stand in front of the mirror and take the irrigator handle;
• set the jet pressure to the minimum level;
• insert the tip of the device into your mouth and turn on the device;
• When changing the position of the device, turn it off each time.

Before washing, make sure the device is in working order. Fill the reservoir with a suitable solution.

Do not use decoctions and infusions. The smallest plant particles included in them can become clogged in the device’s filter and damage it.

After the procedure, you need to thoroughly clean the nozzle and put it in the case. When washing, do not swallow the solution, as it contains microbes washed out of the lacunae of the glands. Do not tilt your head back to prevent liquid from entering your respiratory tract.

After the procedure, you may feel dry mouth and sore throat. This is a normal reaction of the body to the solution used and the pulsation of the liquid. Subsequently, the larynx will get used to the effects of pulsating water. However, if you experience a sore throat and blood in your saliva, stop using the irrigator and consult a doctor. At home, only preventive cleaning of the tonsils is possible. For tonsillitis, you need to undergo the procedure in the ENT office.

Washing of the palatine tonsils in a clinical setting

Moscow clinics offer patients 2 highly effective options for hardware cleaning of the tonsils:

• vacuum, using the Tonsilor device;
• deep washing, combining hardware cleaning with phonophoresis and ultrasound.

Both methods help not only to cure the acute stages of ENT diseases, but also to get rid of chronic tonsillitis.

Vacuum rinsing of tonsils

The hardware method of cleansing the tonsils is a procedure that brings discomfort to the patient. To reduce pain, an anesthetic is used (usually the drug Lidocaine).

The duration of the manipulations is up to 10 minutes.

The procedure flow is as follows:

• the patient is asked to take a sitting position, tilt his head down, stick out his tongue;
• a special device with which the device is equipped is applied to the patient’s lymphoid accumulations;
• Using a vacuum, purulent deposits are removed from the ducts.

The course of therapy usually includes up to 10 rinses (in difficult cases, treatment is extended for another 5 procedures). After recovery, to achieve a prolonged effect, experts recommend repeating the vacuum cleansing procedure after 12 months.

You can see how the treatment procedure occurs in the video:

Contraindications to the use of this method in treatment regimens are: pregnancy, oncopathologies, retinal detachment, atherosclerosis, pulmonary tuberculosis.

Ultrasonic exposure

Excellent results in the treatment of tonsillitis are shown by deep cleansing of lymphoid accumulations. The liquefaction of purulent accumulations and the death of pathogens is caused by ultrasound (frequency - 26.5 kHz). The process is complemented by the introduction of medicinal drugs into the lymphoid tissue (phonophoresis). Before carrying out the procedure, you should watch a video about the main stages of Tonsilor therapy:

Timely treatment of inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs significantly reduces the risk of pathologies. An integrated approach will allow you to completely get rid of problems

- not only washing, but also taking drugs that stabilize the immune system, as well as hardening.

When is tonsil flushing contraindicated?

The procedure is not recommended for people with arterial hypertension - there is a risk of a sharp increase in blood pressure. Also among the contraindications:

• acute infectious diseases of the gums, teeth and throat;
• increased body temperature;
• retinal pathologies and glaucoma;
• severe heart failure;
• 1st and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy;
• allergy to solutions used for rinsing.

Do not use faulty appliances. An irrigator can damage your gums and tonsils if the jet pressure is too strong. If the device does not work well, replace it.

Why carry out the procedure

Washing the tonsils allows you to get rid of accumulations of pus and pathogenic bacteria, which make inflammatory diseases of the throat very difficult to cure.

The procedure allows not only to speed up recovery and restore the normal state of the tonsils, but also to prevent further spread of the infection, which can cause a retropharyngeal abscess, neck phlegmon, or even sepsis.

When washing the lacunae of the tonsils, it is possible to significantly reduce the treatment time. Thanks to this procedure, the following throat diseases go away faster:

• angina,
• tonsillitis,
• pharyngitis,
• laryngitis.

In addition to cleansing the tonsils from pus and bacteria, the procedure, if it uses not just water, but medications, also speeds up the restoration of the mucous membrane. Various rinses of the lacunae are the most effective ways to treat inflammation of the tonsils.

Basic recommendations: how to properly rinse tonsils at home

Experts advise adhering to the following rules when washing your tonsils:

• choose only high-quality irrigators with several operating modes and the ability to regulate pressure;
• wash your tonsils to prevent tonsillitis if it has already been diagnosed once;
• carry out the procedure in courses of 5-10 procedures with intervals of several months;
• during the period of preventive treatment, avoid spicy and hard foods (crackers, chips, etc.), which can burn or scratch the larynx;
• After rinsing, gargle with an antiseptic solution.

Solutions for cleaning sore tonsils

To cleanse the tonsils, use pharmaceutical antiseptic drugs or prepare the products yourself. There are several reliable home solutions for treating tonsils.

• Saline solution. This medicine perfectly kills pathogenic bacteria and accelerates the regeneration of the mucous membrane.
• Soda solution. The medicine not only kills bacteria, but also softens the tissues and relieves swelling. Prepare a solution at the rate of: 1 tsp. soda per glass of water.
• A solution of soda with salt and iodine. The medicine has a very strong effect. For this, dissolve a teaspoon of soda and salt in a glass of water. Then 3 drops of iodine are added to the product.

The washing procedure can also be carried out with the following pharmaceutical preparations:

• Furacilin;
• Chlorophyllipt - it must be dissolved in a volume of 1 tsp. for 150 ml of water. In addition to the antiseptic effect, the composition helps relieve pain and irritation.

Both homemade and pharmaceutical preparations can be used for rinsing equally for children and adults. When carrying out the procedure, it is important to remember that all solutions must be warm.