How can i remove tonsil stones without sticking things down my throat?

sometimes what i do especially with one that been there for awile and is hard to remove , is just open my mouth real wide and give a couple of real good coughs...this helps to loosen it and eventually it will come flying out...lol... but i'm sorry it makes you gag to put something down your throat, because i am able to "dig" mine out most of the time. I know how annoying they can be