Whether it's individual halitosis or public health funds, tonsils can be a problem

Besides pain and discomfort, inflamed or infected tonsils can cause bad breath. However, a study from the University of Michigan has indicated that the routine removal and examination of these glands may not be cost effective.

Tonsils are glands that contribute to the body's immune response when it gets sick. Food particles may get stuck in tonsil tissue, and if left there, they will begin to collect a slime of bacteria and collagen. These pearl-like objects are called tonsil stones, and they can cause powerful halitosis.

If these immune glands get infected or swollen, they may develop more folds and become more likely to create the stones associated with bad breath. For severe infections like tonsillitis, healthcare professionals often recommend that the tonsils be removed and examine.

The recent study, which was published in the journal Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, noted that the post-surgical exams may be wasting $35 million in public health dollars that might be better spent on other programs.

It added that tonsillar exams rarely turn up anything unusual. The glands are problematic mainly for being so prone to infection and stones.

Gargling with a specialty breath freshener can flush out tonsil stones and eliminate bad breath cause by them.