# What are the little bead-like things you can feel under the skin inside your lips? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387 "2011-03-20T19:12:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/21 "2011-03-20T23:41:02Z")
Doesn’t the seventh response answer it? Labial glands… ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/22 "2011-03-21T00:19:51Z")
I’ve had a few of these in my lip since I was a child. When I was very young, I used to think they were cancer. Many years later I am here to tell you they are not. I don’t know what they are, though. I have just one now and haven’t thought about it in years until I read this post. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/23 "2011-03-21T00:40:04Z")
I don’t have anything to add except I have always wondered this too. I can even grab mine with my teeth and this has been true since childhood. Tapioca is a good description. It isn’t cancer. It is just an odd texture in certain areas of the mouth on both sides. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/24 "2011-03-21T00:47:26Z")
They haven’t changed, aren’t discolored or oozing anything. Just the same as ever, just didn’t know what they were. On another note, what are the hard, flat, things growing out the end of each of my fingers and toes? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/25 "2011-03-21T03:04:50Z")
Well, it was a full moon last night, are you getting suddenly hairy, **newcrasher**? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/26 "2011-03-21T07:13:41Z")
Uh, I don’t have these. Is one supposed to have these? Am I missing a gland! Aaaaaahhh!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/27 "2011-03-21T09:56:34Z")
Yes, I have them, and I think those who say they don’t are pushing with their tongue hard enough, as the Labial Glands answer is 100% correct from my reckoning… ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Simple\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Mind)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/28 "2011-03-21T13:45:20Z")
> [@Romeo\_and\_Whatsherface](#): > > I have these, as well. They’re not on the surface, like a canker sore; they’re underneath. You have to put a small amount of pressure on them with your tongue to feel them. I’m not sure what they are, but I’ve had them for so long without them growing or having any symptoms that I have to believe they’re nothing to worry about. I’ve always wondered what they are, though. I have them too since Childhood, they are normal for me as my tongue, I am 52 now and was diagnosed “Marfam Syndrom” a connective tissue disorder, in 1990. On the occasion of a check up it was explained to me that there are several kinds of disorder affecting the Hearth, Gums, Eyes, Limbs and joints. I now assume that these “Beads” are a normal thing to me with this Marfam Syndrom. Now I know that only some people have them:) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/29 "2011-03-21T13:48:14Z")
I also have a ton of scar tissue from braces, so I’m not sure what’s normal up in there and what ain’t. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/30 "2011-03-22T12:45:12Z")
While we’re here, what’s that part above and in front of your top teeth? It perpendicularly bisects the upper part of the upper-inner lip (behind where a mustache would be.) And before anyone says I should have just Googled this–it took me long enough to figure out if the part behind the mustache is actually a part of the lip, and I still get conflicting answers. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/31 "2011-03-22T13:09:00Z")
Frenulum. I know because I once had mine removed. It grows back. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/32 "2011-03-22T15:15:38Z")
Hey, I have these too! I always thought everyone had them. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/33 "2011-03-22T22:32:38Z")
Possibly a mucocele. [http://www.library.vcu.edu/pdfgif/tml/oralpathology/21-mucocele.jpg](http://www.library.vcu.edu/pdfgif/tml/oralpathology/21-mucocele.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![You\_re\_Welcome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bcef8e/32.png) [@You\_re\_Welcome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/You_re_Welcome)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/34 "2017-10-16T04:39:02Z")
It is the Sublingual Caruncle. Please see links to wiki and google images for reference. (To those that came to this thread like I did thinking it was about the “BB’s” in the floor of the mouth. This thread helped solve my problem though 🙂 ) > **[Submandibular gland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublingual_caruncle)** > > The paired submandibular glands (historically known as submaxillary glands) are major salivary glands located beneath the floor of the mouth. They each weigh about 15 grams and contribute some 60–67% of unstimulated saliva secretion; on stimulation their contribution decreases in proportion as the parotid secretion rises to 50%. The average length of the normal human submandibular salivary gland is approximately 27 mm, while the average width is approximately 14.3 mm. > Lying superior to the digas... [https://www.google.com/search?q=sublingual+caruncle&num=30&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiu4-PmqPTWAhVMJiYKHRGpDxQQ\_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=947](https://www.google.com/search?q=sublingual+caruncle&num=30&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiu4-PmqPTWAhVMJiYKHRGpDxQQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=947) > **[Sublingual papilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublingual_papilla)** > > The sublingual papilla or sublingual fold is a small fold of soft tissue located on each side of the frenulum linguae binding the lips to the gums within the mouth. The sublingual papilla marks the site of the sublingual gland with its major sublingual duct and its minor sublingual ducts opening upon the papilla. > In cases of pathology, papillotomy procedures are undertaken for cases of obstructive salivary gland diseases. The appearance of papillae may be influenced by the underlying pathology. ... ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/35 "2017-10-16T17:36:13Z")
> [@You\_re\_Welcome](#): > > It is the Sublingual Caruncle. Please see links to wiki and google images for reference. (To those that came to this thread like I did thinking it was about the “BB’s” in the floor of the mouth. This thread helped solve my problem though 🙂 ) > > [Submandibular gland - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublingual_caruncle) > > [sublingual caruncle - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=sublingual+caruncle&num=30&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiu4-PmqPTWAhVMJiYKHRGpDxQQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=947) > > [Sublingual papilla - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublingual_papilla) That’s not what is described by the OP. They specifically say that the bumps are in their lips, not below their tongue. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/36 "2017-10-16T19:00:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Possibly a mucocele. I still hold that mucocele is quite likely, even all these years later. Updated image here: [http://www.primehealthchannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Mucocele-Photos.jpg](http://www.primehealthchannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Mucocele-Photos.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/37 "2017-10-16T20:23:22Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > On another note, what are the hard, flat, things growing out the end of each of my fingers and toes? They are a curse from god to teach you to stop touching yourself. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/38 "2017-10-16T20:27:02Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > They are a curse from god to teach you to stop touching yourself. If they are truly instructions from god, then are they not blessings? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/39 "2017-10-16T20:47:27Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > That’s not what is described by the OP. They specifically say that the bumps are in their lips, not below their tongue. The OP was confused about where his lips are, so he may well have meant the sublingual thingummys. ---
**Author:** ![scooter\_trash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@scooter\_trash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scooter_trash)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387/40 "2017-10-16T21:59:10Z")
I know what OP is talking about. When I was little my a-hole brother told me they were spider egg sacs full of baby spiders. MOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM! Lolol [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-little-bead-like-things-you-can-feel-under-the-skin-inside-your-lips/575387.md?page=3)