What Does It Mean to Dream of Your Teeth Falling Out?

This recurring universal dream has several common interpretations

Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, FAAN

We never quite know what our minds will deliver as we drift into dreamland. Sometimes we dream about completely mundane things like picking up milk at the grocery store, while other times we can experience an emotional roller coaster that leaves us with genuine, lingering feelings once our eyes flutter open.

This roulette is fascinating in and of itself, but what’s also interesting about dreams is that so many of us share the same ones. Dreaming of our teeth falling out is one such example. In fact, there’s a good chance that you could ask any of your friends if they’ve had some variation of this dream and they’d nod their head yes.

Takeaway

It also tends to be one of the scariest, most stressful, and most visceral dreams we can have.

We spoke with certified counselor and dream expert Audrey Hope about the recurring universal dream of teeth falling out to get some more insights on its significance, psychological interpretations, and factors that may cause you to have this dream.

What Is the Teeth Falling Out Dream?

Dreaming of your teeth falling out is considered a universal dream, meaning that many people experience a similar version. Other examples include forgetting to study for a big test, missing flights, running in place, or being in public naked.

This particularly prevalent dream has various iterations. It might include having one or more teeth break or randomly fall out, or in some cases you may experience all of your teeth disintegrating, shattering, or falling out. A quick survey of the Verywell Mind staff revealed that 100% of the team has experienced this dream in some form.

It’s naturally quite alarming to have this dream or any of its variations, and can leave you feeling stressed or panicked both during the dream and once you’ve woken up.

Possible Meanings Behind Dreaming of Teeth Falling Out

Hope says that dreaming of your teeth falling out is one of the most common and frightening dreams we can have. While there are many possible meanings behind this dream, one that seems to align most often is experiencing stress or uncertainty in your life.

“The teeth represent our security and foundation,” she says. “Dreaming of losing them [may be] calling out to us to look at our worries and insecurities and inner stress and pain. When you lose your teeth in a dream, [it could signal that] you are afraid of something and that you are not dealing with [the stressor].”

Of course, there are additional interpretations to consider, as well.

Freudian

In Freudian dream analysis, dreams are seen as expressions of unconscious desires, conflicts, and repressed thoughts. The Freudian dream interpretation of your teeth falling out is often associated with sex-related stressors, uncertainties, repression, fears.

Reiki

Looking to Reiki and meditation may also help us understand this dream more. Hope says that “because the teeth are located in the fifth chakra of communication, the dream can be about what you are not saying, what you didn't say in the past, or what you need to say now.”

Jungian

Dreams are viewed as symbolic representations of our unconscious thoughts in Jungian dream analysis. Interestingly, in Jungian theory dreaming of teeth falling out suggests that we’re entering into a new phase of life via transformation/renewal, life upheaval, or through aging.

Related: Do You Dream Every Night?

Why We Dream About Our Teeth

Dream interpretation is very fluid and highly individualized, so it’s hard to say definitively what the dream means, exactly. However, by examining the potential interpretations above and looking at current life struggles or changes, we may be able to get a better idea of why our brain conjured up such a strange storyline.

“We may never come to the full absolute meaning of the dream, but with further exploration into it, you can find a jewel for your soul's transformation,” Hope says. “Search out connections, metaphors, current life situations, and familiar characters. From there, you can make associations, dialogue with the dream objects, and then integrate all the wisdom you gather from this into your waking life.”

Potential Factors Influencing Dreams About Our Teeth Falling Out:

• Stress and anxiety

• Life changes and transitions

• Fear or acknowledgement of aging

• Unspoken thoughts or words weighing on you

• Communication challenges

• Sex-related stressors, uncertainties, repression, fears

• Dental health and concerns

Coping With the...Fallout

Dreaming about your teeth falling out can feel alarming, leaving you with lingering feelings of stress or confusion. First, remind yourself that the dream isn’t real and that your teeth are, in fact, still intact and serving you as they need to. From here, if you’re curious about the potential meaning behind the dream, then take some time to sit down and examine your life and how it may relate.

“[I believe that] dreams are the language of the soul and, to get their keys and deeper meaning, one must get personal with them,” Hope says. “One can look up their meaning in a dream glossary, book, Google, or ask a therapist to help, but the bottom line is that your dreams must be taken personally. What does the symbol mean to you?”

It may take some time and deep digging to come up with a possible explanation, but once you’ve done that work you can make adjustments or find more peace in your real, 3D life.

Keep a Dream Journal

Writing down your dreams each morning can also help you pinpoint common themes or recurrences, which can help point you in the right direction, too.

Speaking with someone else about your dreams can be beneficial as well, Hope notes.

“I recommend describing and telling the dream to a friend or therapist in detail. As you tell the dream, you will begin to find the patterns and issues that are coming up in your life,” Hope says. “Having someone with you to share your dream can open new doors. You will begin to relate your current life situation and learn from the questions asked.”

Final Thoughts on Dreams

As strange as they are, and as weird as they can make us feel, research has shown that dreams can provide genuine insights and opportunities for self-exploration and reflection.

A teeth falling out dream is commonly associated with stress or uncertainties in our life, big changes or transformations, or unspoken thoughts and feelings that are weighing on you, so consider looking here first. Wherever it takes you can only provide deeper introspection into yourself and serve as a catalyst for change, understanding, and inner peace.

Read Next: What Are Stress Dreams?

Read the original article on Verywell Mind.