Steroid use is associated with which oral condition?

• A. Candidiasis
• B. Osteonecrosis
• C. Stomatitis
• D. Gingival overgrowth

Answer: (A)

Steroids weaken immune defenses in the mouth and, when used in inhaled form, can directly irritate or disrupt the local mucosa. This creates a favorable environment for Candida albicans to overgrow, leading to oropharyngeal candidiasis (thrush). Patients using inhaled corticosteroids are especially prone if they don’t rinse their mouth after inhalation or use a spacer, which leaves more steroid residue on the mucosa to suppress local immunity. Systemic steroids can also raise infection risk, but the classic oral complication most closely linked to steroid use is candidiasis.

The other options don’t fit as neatly. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a real concern with certain treatments and conditions, but it’s more strongly associated with other factors or systemic conditions and is not a typical immediate oral infection tied to steroid use. Stomatitis and gingival overgrowth are symptoms or conditions that can occur for various reasons, and while steroids can influence oral tissues, they are not the characteristic oral complication most commonly linked to steroid therapy.