Dry mouth (also called xerostomia) results from the inhibition of production of saliva by cells in the salivary glands. Certain chemotherapy drugs have this side effect.
Normal levels of saliva have powerful action against the growth of bacteria and viruses in the mouth and throat. When the amount of saliva in the mouth decreases due to xerostomia, bacteria in the mouth and throat can multiply. A possible consequence of high levels of bacteria in the mouth is tooth decay.
For information on preventing and treating dry mouth, see our Q&A called, "Is there anything that I can do to prevent and treat dry mouth from chemotherapy?"
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