On this page
Throat Procedures
Overview
The throat and mouth handle breathing, swallowing and speech, so problems here are hard to ignore. Repeated sore throats, loud snoring, a painful swelling under the jaw or a mouth patch that won't heal are common reasons children and adults visit an ENT specialist.
Many throat conditions settle with the right medicines and simple measures. Tonsil and adenoid surgery, snoring surgery and salivary gland procedures are considered when problems keep coming back, disturb sleep and breathing, or don't respond to treatment. In children, tonsil and adenoid problems are assessed with particular care because they can affect sleep, behaviour and concentration.
Dr. Savyasachi Saxena also evaluates white or red patches, ulcers and lumps in the mouth. Tobacco chewing, smoking and areca nut (supari) use make precancerous changes of the mouth more common in India, so any mouth lesion that lasts more than two weeks deserves a specialist examination.
Your specialist
Dr. Savyasachi Saxena, MBBS, MS (ENT)
ENT & Head-Neck Surgeon · HOD, Fortis Hospital, Noida
What we treat
Conditions treated
Recurrent tonsillitis and quinsy
Repeated throat infections with fever and painful swallowing, sometimes with a collection of pus beside the tonsil (peritonsillar abscess).
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
Large tonsils and adenoids can cause snoring, mouth-breathing, pauses in breathing and restless sleep in children.
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea
Snoring happens when relaxed tissues vibrate. In sleep apnoea the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, causing loud snoring, gasping and daytime sleepiness.
Tongue-tie
A short or tight band under the tongue that, in some children, affects feeding or speech.
Salivary gland stones and infections
Stones in the salivary ducts cause painful swelling under the jaw or in front of the ear at mealtimes, and can lead to repeated infections.
Oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia
Stiffening of the mouth lining that limits mouth opening, and white patches in the mouth. Both are strongly linked to tobacco and areca nut use and can be precancerous.
Benign and vascular growths
Cysts, papillomas, vascular malformations and other benign growths of the mouth and throat.
Chronic pharyngitis
A persistently sore or irritated throat, sometimes with granular patches, often linked to reflux, post-nasal drip, smoking or pollution.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms to watch for
Any of these, especially if they last or keep coming back, are worth discussing with an ENT specialist.
- Sore throat with fever several times a year
- Pain or difficulty swallowing, or pain spreading to the ear
- Loud snoring, gasping or pauses in breathing during sleep
- Daytime sleepiness, morning headaches or poor concentration
- A painful swelling under the jaw or in front of the ear while eating
- A mouth ulcer, or white or red patch, lasting more than two weeks
- Difficulty opening the mouth fully, or burning with spicy food
- A lump in the throat or neck
Diagnosis
How it's diagnosed
Tests are chosen for your symptoms — not everyone needs all of them.
- 1
Throat and mouth examination
A careful look at the tonsils, palate, tongue and the whole of the mouth, including areas that are easy to miss.
- 2
Nasal and throat endoscopy
Shows the adenoids, the back of the tongue and the throat, and helps find where the airway narrows in people who snore.
- 3
X-ray of the nasopharynx
In children, a soft-tissue X-ray can estimate adenoid size when endoscopy isn't practical.
- 4
Sleep study (polysomnography)
Records breathing, oxygen levels and sleep overnight to confirm sleep apnoea and judge its severity before treatment is chosen.
- 5
Ultrasound or CT scan
Imaging to locate salivary stones, assess gland swellings or evaluate neck lumps.
- 6
Biopsy
A small sample of a persistent mouth patch or ulcer is the only way to know whether it is benign, precancerous or cancerous.
Treatment
Treatment options
Treatment is tailored to the cause and severity of your problem. Where they are appropriate, non-surgical options are considered first.
- Non-surgical
Medical treatment
Antibiotics when a bacterial infection is likely, pain relief, fluids and gargles, reflux and allergy treatment, and sleep and weight advice for snoring.
- Surgical
Tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy
Removal of the tonsils, with or without the adenoids, using conventional or LASER techniques. It is considered for frequent, well-documented tonsil infections, quinsy, or tonsils and adenoids that obstruct breathing during sleep.
- Surgical
Snoring surgery (UPPP)
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty trims and tightens the soft palate, uvula and tonsils in carefully selected patients. For many adults with moderate to severe sleep apnoea, CPAP remains a highly effective first option, and surgery is chosen according to where the airway narrows.
- Surgical
Tongue-tie release
A quick procedure to release a tight band under the tongue when it clearly causes feeding or speech problems.
- Surgical
Salivary gland surgery
Removal of stones from the salivary ducts, and removal of a chronically infected or diseased gland when needed.
- Surgical
Treatment of mouth lesions
Excision of leukoplakia and suspicious lesions for complete assessment, and injection therapy to improve mouth opening in selected cases of submucous fibrosis — together with stopping tobacco and areca nut.
- Minimally invasive
Sclerotherapy for vascular lesions
Injection of a medicine that shrinks selected vascular malformations of the mouth and throat.
All procedures offered
- Tonsillectomy (LASER & Conventional) and Adenotonsillectomy
- Tongue-tie Release
- UPPP — Snoring Surgery
- Excision of Benign & Cancerous Tumours
- Salivary Gland Stone Removal & Gland Excision
- Leukoplakia Excision
- Injection Therapy for Submucous Fibrosis
- Vascular Tumour Sclerotherapy
- Silver Nitrate Treatment for Chronic Pharyngeal Granulation
After treatment
Recovery & aftercare
- 1
Throat pain after tonsillectomy is expected and is often worst between the third and seventh day; it can also be felt in the ears. Taking pain relief regularly, as prescribed, makes eating and drinking easier.
- 2
Drink plenty of fluids and eat soft foods. Most children and adults are back to a normal diet in about 10 to 14 days.
- 3
White patches in the throat after tonsillectomy are the normal healing surface, not a sign of infection.
- 4
Plan for about two weeks away from school or work after tonsillectomy, and avoid crowded places while healing.
- 5
Recovery after palate surgery for snoring is similar but can be more uncomfortable. A follow-up review checks whether snoring and sleep apnoea have improved.
Safety
Possible risks
- Bleeding after tonsillectomy, most often within the first day or around 5 to 10 days later — any bleeding needs urgent attention
- Dehydration if pain makes drinking difficult
- A temporary change in voice or taste
- After palate surgery: liquids coming back through the nose for a while, or snoring that persists
- Infection, or recurrence of salivary stones
Every procedure carries some risk. Dr. Saxena explains the risks that apply to you, and the alternatives, before you decide on any treatment.
Getting help
When to see an ENT specialist
Book a consultation if
- Your child has frequent sore throats or tonsil infections that affect school
- Loud snoring with pauses in breathing, restless sleep or bedwetting in a child
- Snoring with daytime sleepiness, morning headaches or high blood pressure
- Swelling under the jaw or in front of the ear that recurs with meals
- Reduced mouth opening or a burning sensation with spicy food
Get urgent care if
- Any bleeding from the mouth after tonsil surgery
- Severe one-sided throat pain with difficulty opening the mouth, drooling or a muffled voice
- Difficulty breathing, or being unable to swallow saliva
- A mouth ulcer, patch or lump that hasn't healed in two weeks — book an examination promptly
In an emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
How many tonsil infections justify a tonsillectomy?
Widely used criteria consider tonsillectomy when throat infections are frequent and well documented — for example, seven or more episodes in one year, five or more a year for two years, or three or more a year for three years — or when enlarged tonsils cause breathing problems during sleep. The overall effect on health, school or work is also weighed before surgery is advised.
Is tonsillectomy safe for children?
Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations in children and is generally safe when done for the right reasons. The main risk is bleeding, which is uncommon, and parents are given clear instructions on pain relief, diet and warning signs to watch for.
Will removing the tonsils weaken immunity?
The tonsils are only one small part of the immune system, and the rest of it keeps working after they are removed. Most children and adults do not notice any change in how well they fight infections.
Can snoring be treated without surgery?
Often, yes. Losing excess weight, sleeping on your side, avoiding alcohol and sedatives at night, and treating a blocked nose help many people. If sleep apnoea is confirmed, CPAP or an oral appliance may be recommended. Surgery is one option among several, chosen after finding where the airway narrows.
Can a mouth ulcer that won't heal be cancer?
Most mouth ulcers are harmless and heal within two weeks. An ulcer, white or red patch, or lump that lasts longer — especially in people who use tobacco, areca nut or alcohol — should be examined by an ENT or head and neck specialist, and may need a biopsy to rule out precancer or cancer.
Further reading
This page gives general information for patients and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Diagnosis and treatment depend on an individual examination.