To diagnose tonsil stones, your provider may: Do a physical exam, looking inside your mouth and throat. Perform an imaging scan if they cannot see the stones easily. Dislodge the stones using a dental pick. Sometimes, a healthcare provider happens to notice tonsil stones during an exam. If you don’t have any symptoms, your provider might notice a stone during a scan or X-ray for a different problem. Or your dentist may see them during a dental exam.