Dr. Khushbu Gopalakrishnan
Medical Reviewer
Education: DDS, UCLA School of Dentistry
Dr. Gopalakrishnan, a licensed general dentist, earned her DDS from UCLA School of Dentistry in 2014 and completed a general dentistry residency in a hospital setting. Committed to treating the whole body, not just the tooth, she practices in the public health sector to provide care for underserved populations. Besides clinical work, Dr. Gopalakrishnan consults for various organizations, where she specializes in reviewing and developing clinical protocols.
Articles reviewed by Khushbu
Byte Aligners in 2026: What Happened and What to Do Next
Byte aligners are no longer offered to new patients. Here is what happened to Byte, what current patients should do, and...
Temporary Chipped Tooth Repair at Home
Should you fix a chipped tooth at home? This article details what you should do if you chip your tooth and how to tell i...
Teething Rash: What It Looks Like and When It's Something Else
Teething rash is red, irritated skin where drool sits on your baby's face and neck. Learn how to treat it, why a belly r...
Are Tonsil Stones Contagious?
No, tonsil stones aren't contagious. They form from debris trapped in your own tonsils. Learn what kissing can spread, h...
Black Tongue: Why Is My Tongue Black?
Most black tongues are black hairy tongue or a stain from bismuth medicine, coffee or tobacco. Learn the causes, how to...
Bumps on the Back of the Tongue: Normal vs. Swollen
The bumps on the back of your tongue are usually normal papillae and tonsil tissue. Learn what makes them swell, 12 caus...
Cobblestone Throat: Bumps on the Back of Your Throat
Cobblestone throat is swollen immune tissue on the back wall of your throat. See what it looks like, what causes it, how...
25 Common Oral Diseases and Conditions (With Pictures)
A picture list of 25 common oral diseases and conditions, grouped by teeth, gums, mouth sores, tongue and jaw, with a sh...
Eruption Cyst: Purple or Blue Bump on a Baby's Gums
A purple, blue or bluish-black bump on your baby's gum is usually an eruption cyst, a harmless fluid bubble over a tooth...
Swollen and Inflamed Taste Buds: Causes and Treatment
Swollen or inflamed taste buds are irritated papillae on your tongue. Learn what causes them, from burns to lie bumps, h...
Itchy Gums: 6 Causes and How to Get Relief
Itchy gums often start with plaque at the gumline, but allergies, hormones, dry mouth and viruses cause them too. Learn...
Why Is My Tongue Itchy? Causes and Allergy Warning Signs
An itchy tongue usually comes from oral allergy syndrome, another food allergy, dry mouth or irritation. See 11 causes,...
Lopsided Smile: Causes and How to Fix an Uneven Smile
A smile that's always been slightly lopsided is usually harmless, but a sudden droop on one side of the face can be a st...
5 Ways to Fix a Sharp Tooth and Why You Shouldn't File It
A sharp or jagged tooth usually means a chip, a broken cusp or a lost filling. Learn the causes, how to protect your mou...
What Is Stomatitis? Types and Treatment of Mouth Inflammation
Stomatitis is the medical term for mouth inflammation. Learn the seven main types, from canker sores to denture stomatit...
Swollen Jaw: Causes and When It's an Emergency
Most jaw swelling starts with an infected tooth, a wisdom tooth, swollen lymph nodes or a salivary gland. Learn 9 causes...
Teeth Shapes: The Four Types of Teeth and What Each Does
Your teeth come in four shapes, each with its own job. Learn what incisors, canines, premolars and molars do, which shap...
15 Soft Foods to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal
What to eat after wisdom teeth removal, day by day: 15 soft foods, the foods and drinks to skip, when to add firmer food...
How Many Teeth Do Humans Have?
Adults have 32 permanent teeth (28 without wisdom teeth) and children have 20 baby teeth. See how the count changes with...
Pain When Swallowing: Common Causes and When It's Urgent
It usually hurts to swallow because of a throat infection or acid reflux. Learn the common causes, what helps at home an...
What Causes a Lisp in Children and Adults?
A lisp most often affects S and Z sounds. Learn what causes a lisp in children and adults, the four types of lisps, and...
Can You Pop a Canker Sore? What to Do Instead
Canker sores aren't blisters, so there's nothing inside to pop. Learn why picking one makes it worse, how to tell it fro...
White Spots on Tongue: 7 Causes, What They Look Like, and When to Worry
White spots on your tongue most often come from oral thrush, leukoplakia, or geographic tongue. See what each cause look...
Mandible Bone (Lower Jaw): Anatomy, Function, and Common Problems
The mandible is the lower jaw bone that holds your bottom teeth and helps you chew and speak. Learn its anatomy, major p...