The mouth has several components. First, the lining of the mouth, the oral mucosa, is normally a healthy reddish pink, while the gums, which are located around the teeth, are a paler pink. The palate, or roof of the mouth, is separated into two parts, the hard palate and the soft palate. The front part is hard and has ridges. The back part is smoother and soft. The lips are separated by the vermilion border, which divides the skin-like outside surface from the moist mucosa of the inside surface. The tongue is covered with tiny projections, called papillae, which contain tastes buds.