Which adverse intraoral effect is associated with chemotherapy?

• A. Stomatitis & mucositis
• B. Candidiasis
• C. Gingival overgrowth
• D. Dental erosion

Answer: (A)

Chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing cells, including the lining of the mouth. This injury to the oral mucosa manifests as stomatitis or mucositis—painful inflammation with redness, ulcers, and sometimes bleeding. It often occurs during treatment and can make eating and speaking uncomfortable, increasing infection risk because the protective barrier of the mucosa is compromised. Proper management centers on gentle oral care, bland or medicated rinses, pain control, and monitoring for infections.

Candidiasis can occur in people with chemotherapy-induced immune suppression and mucosal injury, but it is a secondary complication rather than the direct intraoral effect of chemotherapy. Gingival overgrowth is typically tied to other medications, and dental erosion results from non-chemoderal factors like diet or reflux, not the primary effect of chemotherapy.