Torus palatinus

How it works

The hard palate is the bony front part of the roof of the mouth. It forms from two plates of bone that meet in the middle. A torus palatinus is an extra growth of normal bone along that midline seam¹. It can be a low ridge, a smooth mound, or a lumpy shape with several lobes. It is covered by the thin normal lining of the palate, so it feels hard and smooth under the tongue. It is not a tumour. The bone is ordinary dense bone, and it never spreads.

Tori usually start in the teens or twenties and grow slowly through adult life¹. They run in families and are thought to be inherited in a dominant pattern, with diet and chewing forces playing a part¹.

Reported prevalence runs from 2% to 67% depending on the population studied¹. It is most common in people of Asian and Inuit descent, and about twice as common in women as in men¹. A similar growth on the inside of the lower jaw, next to the tongue, is called torus mandibularis².

Try it

1. Press the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, just behind the front teeth.
2. Slide it slowly backward along the centre line.
3. Feel for a hard bump or ridge in the middle. A large torus is obvious. A small one feels like a firm pea under the lining.
4. If you can, look in a mirror with a torch. A torus shows as a pale mound down the midline.

Is it a problem?

No. A torus palatinus needs no treatment. It does not turn into anything else. Two things can make it a nuisance. First, the lining over it is thin and can be scraped by hard food, giving a sore that heals slowly. Second, a large torus can get in the way of a denture or an orthodontic plate¹. In those cases a surgeon can remove it. If you have found a lump on your palate and are not sure, a dentist can confirm it by looking, usually in seconds.