Direct answer

Food debris, cells and bacteria may collect in tonsil crypts and form small white or yellow deposits.

Labeled anatomy of the lips, teeth, tongue, palate, uvula and palatine tonsil
Labeled anatomy of the lips, teeth, tongue, palate, uvula and palatine tonsil. General illustration for context. Image: OpenStax College via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
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Key symptoms

  • They may cause bad breath or a foreign-body sensation
  • They are usually harmless
  • Recurrent tonsillitis or deep crypts may contribute
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Assessment and treatment

  • Good oral hygiene and salt-water gargles
  • Do not use sharp objects to remove them
  • Seek ENT advice if recurrent or troublesome

Related ENT services

Tonsil and adenoid careAssessment and care for recurrent tonsillitis, adenotonsillitis, enlarged tonsils/adenoids and related sleep-breathing concerns.→Throat ConditionsDiagnosis of sore throat, recurrent tonsillitis, swallowing difficulty, reflux-related symptoms and neck lumps.→
ReferencesEar, nose and throat careNHS↗Sore throat (acute): antimicrobial prescribingNICE↗About Strep ThroatUS CDC↗

For patient education; not a substitute for individual diagnosis or treatment. Seek emergency care for red-flag symptoms.