Hi all. I am a 27 year old occasional smoker (trying hard to give up). I have noticed many tiny spots on my soft palate - they have been there for at least two months (that's when I first noticed them). They are painless and colorless, but seem to cover the majority of my soft palate. I can see them if I use a flash light or I can feel them distinctly with my tongue. I am really scared - seeing my dentist on Monday - but if in the meantime someone could tell me what this could be, I would really really appreciate it. Thanks!

Hi Asi22

Try to relax. That you're scared out of your shorts is understandable, but fear only makes things worse.

You've taken a very important first step by making an appointment with the dentist. The next step would be to quit smoking (that's the last I'll say on that particular topic.) If the dentist can't figure out what the problem is, ask to be referred to an ENT. (I don't mean the talking, walking trees from the Lord of the Rings )

Please let us know how things turn out.

Julia

Thanks Julia. The oral screening I have booked should help. I have already seen my GP - twice, a dentist, and an ENT specialist. They all think this is not something "sinister", but they can't tell me what it is. I am terrified. Any idea what this might be? Is the soft palate meant to be completely smooth?

Unfortunately, this isn't a place for diagnosis, and I have no medical training. The best advice I can give you, given how scared I know you are, is NOT to check out your symptoms on the internet. As useful a tool as it can be, a lot of the information seems to be of the worst-case-scenario variety.

You said that you went to an ENT. Did they do a biopsy or any other tests?

You might want to consider taking someone with you to your appointment on Monday. I know it's the dentist, but in case they find out something bad, it's a good idea to have someone with you to take down notes or ask questions.

There's nothing you can do between now and Monday, so PLEASE try to relax--have a warm beverage, watch some bad films. Yes, I know how hard it can be, especially at this time of the year: I first saw a doctor about my tongue a mere two days before Christmas in 2004, and had another appointment 4 days after. Suffice it to say that my family didn't have a very happy holiday that year.

Hello Asi22

Often what you describe could just be minor salivary glands, hence normal. If you can put up a good picture of your plate, I will venture a guess.

Best wishes
Vinod