---
title: "What Is Palate? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "The palate is the roof of your mouth. It has a hard front part and a soft back part, and it separates the mouth from the nose."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/palate
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Anatomy

# Palate

The palate is the roof of your mouth. It has a hard front part and a soft back part, and it separates the mouth from the nose.

The palate forms the roof of the mouth and the floor of the nose. It has two parts. The hard palate is the front part and the soft palate is the back part. Together they separate the nasal cavity from the mouth.

The upper jaw, or [maxilla](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/maxilla), helps form the hard palate.

Sores, lumps or color changes on the palate are worth showing to a dentist. A dentist looks at the palate during an [oral cancer screening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-cancer-screening) and at routine exams.

## Related terms

-   [Maxilla](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/maxilla)
-   [Salivary glands](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/salivary-glands)
-   [Oral cancer screening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-cancer-screening)
-   [Mouth sores](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/mouth-sores)
-   [Dental exam](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-exam)

## Sources

1.  [MedlinePlus: Infant hard and soft palates](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/9039.htm)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)