The roof of the mouth is an important part of our oral cavity. It's the area where the upper teeth socket, tongue, gums, and palate come together. Sometimes the roof of the mouth can become inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. Its medical term is palatal mucosa. The hard part of the roof of the mouth is known as the hard palate. The soft part of the roof of the mouth is known as the soft palate or velum. Other synonyms for the roof of the mouth are palatine vault, palate, and oral palate. No matter what you call it, it's essential to keep this area healthy to maintain proper oral hygiene.