Videos·Posted on Jul 1, 2015Tons Of People Have Tonsil Stones Even Though You've Never Heard Of ThemThese mostly harmless stones can be quite annoying, and the images are pretty gross!by Ali VelezBuzzFeed Staff WriterLinkFacebookPinterestTwitterMail Gross Science explains the science behind tonsil stones, which you probably didn't even know were a thing, even though tons of people have them! View this video on YouTube youtube.com / Via youtube.com This is what a tonsil stone looks like. Warning: pretty gnarly! Tap to reveal Click to reveal Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF Host Anna Rothschild explains that you might develop tonsil stones if you have repeated bouts of tonsillitis, or even just big ol' tonsils. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF You might not even know they are there, because they can grow BEHIND the tonsil, just out of sight. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF The stones can form when dead cells, mucus, and food get stuck in the crevices of your tonsils and harden. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF The little ones can be harmless, but as they grow, they can cause sore throats, ear pain, and they could give you some stanky breath. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF It's all because tonsil stones are basically a feast for bacteria and other microbes. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF