Eli5: What are the round flat things on the roof of the mouth?

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You know the two round, flat things you feel when you press your tongue against the front of the roof of your mouth? What actually are those and why do we have them? I tried to Google it but the results were all about growths and cysts and things. This is something that seems to be normal and I think everyone has them.

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Anonymous 0 Comments

I suspect what you’re feeling are just the small wrinkles that occur naturally on the alveolar ridge, the shelf on the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth. The shaping can be a bit random, so they may enclose a circular area that feels like a disc to the tongue. Do a google image search for “hard palate rugae” and you may recognize what I’m talking about.

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