# Mouth question (YANMD) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892 "2017-01-11T20:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/1 "2017-01-11T20:14:20Z")
Just curious really. When at rest, my tongue rests on the top of my mouth just behind my upper front teeth. This area is a decidedly different color than the rest of the top of my mouth. Sort of whitish. Never noticed this before, but doubt I ever looked. Is this common? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/2 "2017-01-11T20:33:18Z")
I hesitated to answer this because IAAMD, but what the heck. Is it common? yes. It’s even normal. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/3 "2017-01-11T20:53:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I hesitated to answer this because IAAMD, but what the heck. > > Is it common? yes. It’s even normal. Thanks, I sort of thought so. Having your tongue naturally rest there all the time would almost have to make a difference. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/4 "2017-01-11T21:53:23Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Thanks, I sort of thought so. Having your tongue naturally rest there all the time would almost have to make a difference. > > Thanks. Are you implying that constant contact with your tongue has changed the color of the roof of your mouth? That’s… strange. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/5 "2017-01-11T22:55:03Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Thanks, I sort of thought so. Having your tongue naturally rest there all the time would almost have to make a difference. > > Thanks. I doubt that’s the reason. I suspect it’s more due to thickness of tissue. Thinner areas will look a bit paler there, as there’s bone just underneath. Thicker ones will have more blood capillaries in them. Individual variability in the thickness from person to person will cause some variation. But then I’m not an oral surgeon or ENT MD either, so all I have is my observations, a little basic anatomy knowledge, and some semi-educated WAGs behind my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/6 "2017-01-11T23:08:04Z")
😕 “YANMD” “Yokels Answer, No MDs?” I honestly can’t work it out, although Im sure it will be :smack: when someone tells me. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/7 "2017-01-11T23:09:59Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > 😕 “YANMD” “Yokels Answer, No MDs?” I honestly can’t work it out, although Im sure it will be :smack: when someone tells me. You Are Not My Doctor, I assume. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/8 "2017-01-12T01:04:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > You Are Not My Doctor, I assume. Yep. Thanks QTM. That makes sense. After all, bone is right under that tissue. (I was just at the dentist, and looked at my mouth later and noticed it) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/9 "2017-01-12T03:15:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Is it common? yes. It’s even normal. Hell, QtM, you could at least try to give him the news gently. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/10 "2017-01-12T04:48:16Z")
Good question ! Why would it be white ? Do you sip scalding hot coffee or tea ? That could be thickening the skin there. You could actually cause cancer by using your tongue and palate to cool scalding hot food or drink… ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouth-question-yanmd/776892/11 "2017-01-12T20:29:55Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Hell, QtM, you could at least try to give him the news gently. He is! QtM isn’t mentioning that White Upper Mouth disease is terminal. Untreated, the tongue falls off and ultimately the patient will lose bounce and touchability in their hair. I am definitely not your doctor!