Re: Mouth is so dry w/4 drops a day!

ha! a lot of it is over my head as well....although, I certainly understand some of it. I linked it to show you the importance of Iodine to oral health...also...iodine is found in large concentration in all mucus membranes, anywhere with high cell turnover...

Here are some easily understandable snippets:

"Gastro-salivary clearance and secretions of iodides are an important part of “gastro-intestinal cycle of iodides”, which constitutes about 23 % of iodides pool in the human body, that is important for the overall Iodide economy."

"Salivary glands and saliva have highest and rapid I-concentrating capacity in the body, via an efficent NIS. According to Banerjee [19, 20] and De SK [21] the salivary glands and gastric mucosa has high ability to concentrate iodides and to form iodocompounds by peroxidases."

~~in fact, I recall reading somewhere that salivary gland tumors could be indicative of future breast cancer, don't remember where I read that, don't quote me~~~~

"Inorganic Iodine regulates the production of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in isolated thyroid cells, and controls DNA synthesis and cell proliferation [23]; this action might also occur in gastric mucosa and in salivary glands. EGF is a low-molecular-weight polypeptide first purified from the mouse submandibular gland, but since then found in many human tissues including submandibular gland, parotid gland. Salivary EGF plays an important physiological role in the maintenance of oro-esophageal and gastric tissue integrity. The biological effects of salivary EGF, and also esophageal derived EGF, include healing of ulcers, inhibition of gastric acid secretion, stimulation of DNA synthesis as well as mucosal protection from intraluminal injurious factors such as gastric acid, bile acids, pepsin, and trypsin and to physical, chemical and bacterial agents."

and here's interesting data on incidences of dental caries in various populations, some with more iodine-rich diets that others...

"Results indicate four basic patterns of dental disease which, while not mutually exclusive, correspond to four basic subsistence patterns. Marine dependency (rich in iodine) in population, is indicated by severe attrition, low caries rates, and a lack of AMTL. The second group of dental diseases-moderate attrition, low rates of caries, and low-moderate rates of AMTL affects populations subsisting on a mixture of pastoralism or fishing and agriculture. Mixed farming populations experienced low-moderate attrition, high rates of caries and abscessing due to caries, and severe AMTL. The final group of dental diseases affects inland populations practicing intensive gardening. These groups experienced slight attrition, high rates of caries, and severe AMTL"

soooo, in a nutshell...iodine in saliva and gastric mucosa protects against a variety of disease manifestations from dental caries to stomach ulcers... :)
Why it is affecting your production of saliva at this point, I don't know, but I'll bet it will pass...