Teeth Falling Out in Dream

I was talking with some friends yesterday and asked if they had any commonly occurring dreams. One replied, "Oh yeah, my teeth falling out." Immediately, I enthusiastically agreed—that was one I had often as well. Even my husband, who rarely dreams, says that when he does, that is the one he gets. I understand it can be incredibly distressing, and sometimes I'll frantically wake up to check and make sure I still have all my pearly whites. Sometimes I attribute it to grinding in my sleep, but I think there is more to it.

In A Dictionary of Symbols by J.E. Cirlot, he writes about teeth:

"According to Allendy, teeth are primigenial weapons of attack, and an expression of activity. Loss of one's teeth, then, signifies fear of castration or complete failure in life, or inhibition; it represents an attitude which is the inversion of that of the Primitive, who according to the findings of anthropology, commonly adorned himself with the teeth and claws of conquered animals. Some interpretations underline the significance of teeth in respect of the sexual aspect of energy. But of greater importance is the Gnostic concept—for which we are indebted to Leisegang's Die Gnosis—in which the teeth constitute the battlements, the wall and the fortifications of the inner man, from the material or energetic point of view, just as the eyes and the glance are the defence of the spirit. This explains the negative symbolism of the loss or fracture of the teeth."

I love this explanation; it's the one I connect with most compared to others I've looked at online or in books. It makes me think of the expression that something can "have teeth." According to The Free Dictionary, this means "to have enough power or support of authority to compel obedience or punish offenders, as of a law." To put it plainly, I think when we lose teeth in our dreams, we may be feeling powerless in real life.

Furthermore, I keep thinking about how we get older, and how some of us eventually have to get dentures. Often at that age, being completely self-sufficient isn't as attainable as it was in our younger years. Conversely, think of infants with their bare mouths. The more teeth they get, the more independent they become.

Last, I want to add that there is a vanity aspect to it. One of the first things we notice about another person is almost always their smile—more specifically, their teeth. I think when teeth fall out in our dreams, we are trying to avoid embarrassment. It carries the same energy as the Judgment card in Tarot, which represents the public and their opinions. The reversal of that card, in my view, represents feeling embarrassed.

So overall, I think when you have teeth falling out in your dreams, you should ask yourself: "Is there something in my life making me feel powerless?" "Am I trying to avoid embarrassment?" or, the one I think sums it up best, "Do I feel particularly overexposed or vulnerable about a situation?"

If you have a recurring dream you are confused about, or might want extra insight on, feel free to contact me—I'll probably write a blog post about it!