Dream Interpretation - Dreams of Teeth
Dreams about teeth, particularly dreams where the dreamer finds
his or her teeth falling out, are much more common than you
might think. Some common forms of this dream include dreams in
which the dreamer's teeth crumble in his or her hands, or dreams
in which the teeth fall out with just a light touch. These
dreams can be extremely frightening, even more so than chase
dreams or falling dreams. In addition, such dreams often leave
the dreamer with an image that is hard to shake even after
waking. There are many theories about just what teeth, and
losing teeth, represent in the dream world, and these can be
some of the most difficult dreams to interpret. One theory holds
that dreams about teeth, and losing teeth, are a reflection of
the dreamer's anxiety about his or her appearance, and about how
the dreamer thinks others perceive him or her. This
interpretation is certainly valid, especially since we live in a
society that seems to value physical beauty above all else.
Since a good set of teeth play an important role in physical
beauty, it is easy to see how uncertainties about one's
appearance could manifest themselves in dreams about losing
teeth. Since teeth play such an important role in physical
attraction scenarios, such as flirting and getting the attention
of the opposite sex, dreams of losing teeth can be
manifestations of fears of getting old, fears of sexual
impotence or other dating related anxieties. Other
interpretations of dreams of losing teeth hold that they are
representations of fear of embarrassment or making a fool of
oneself. For instance, someone who is dreading a potentially
embarrassing situation, such as making a speech or other public
speaking engagement, may dream of his or her teeth falling out.
This type of dream would represent an exaggeration of already
present fears or anxieties brought on by the upcoming event.
People who are troubled by dreams of losing teeth or teeth
falling out should examine their own lives for the source of
possible embarrassment or appearance based anxieties. Another
theory holds that teeth in dreams represent power, since they
are used in real life to tear, chew, and bite. Therefore, the
loss of teeth in a dream represents a perceived loss of power or
influence. People who feel frustrated, or who feel that their
voices are not being heard, may have dreams about losing teeth.
Feeling ineffective, or feelings of inferiority, are often
associated with such dreams as well. Finally, some of the latest
dream research has revealed that women have more frequent dreams
about teeth as they enter menopause. These dreams about teeth
may be related to anxieties about appearance and fears of
getting older. There are of course other interpretations of
dreams of missing or losing teeth. There are interpretations of
this dream in a number of cultures around the world, further
testament to the fact that teeth are a common dream theme in
many cultures. One biblical interpretation of the dream of
losing teeth holds that the bad teeth mean the dreamer is
placing his or her faith in the works of man rather than in the
word of God. Thus the falling teeth in the dream are urging the
dreamer to turn back to God for guidance. The ancient Greeks
believed that dreams about loose, rotting or missing teeth were
warnings that a close friend or family member was very ill or
near death. The Chinese hold that teeth falling out is a
punishment for lying, and that dreams of falling teeth are
manifestations of guilt over telling lies. Some have even
suggested that dreams of missing teeth are associated with
money. This connection probably goes back to the old tooth fairy
story, where children are rewarded with money for putting their
lost teeth under their pillows.