Loss of Teeth Can Have Many Meanings

Dear Cynthia: I have had the classic dream about my teeth falling out of my mouth. In the most recent, they were splintering from the back right part of my mouth. It was really frightening. My mom always said it means that you are growing up, but another person told me that it means that your life is falling apart. I had a dream book that I threw away because it seemed so negative: It said this sort of teeth dream is about carrying burdens. What’s your ruling on this dream?

--SHELLEY KAY

Via e-mail

Dear Shelley: Losing one’s teeth in a dream is common but can have several meanings. For some it is associated with survival. An animal in the wild cannot procure food, it cannot eat nor can it adequately defend itself without its teeth. So losing your teeth in a dream may indicate some anxiety about your welfare.

Of course, teeth are also necessary for articulate speech. Hence the dream may have to do with being unable to communicate something important, or the need to communicate. One’s appearance is affected by the condition of one’s teeth; some may have this dream when they are concerned about their appearance or with aging.

Children do lose their baby teeth as they grow up and could have dreams associated with that, so your mom could be right too. Whatever you personally associate with the symbol is what is important.

In your dream, your teeth are splintering from the right side. What in your life is splintering or breaking? The right side in a dream may be pointing to the right decision or the right path. Do you fear breaking up with a boyfriend, yet you know it is the right thing to do? Or is there some other situation such as a friendship splitting off?

If the dream persists and it has been awhile since your last dental visit, you may want to get a checkup, just to be sure.

I’m glad you tossed the negative dream book. All dreams, no matter how strange they seem, are positive. They give us a chance to become more aware and empowered to make changes.

Cynthia Richmond is the author of “Dream Power, How to Use Your Night Dreams to Change Your Life” (Simon & Schuster, 2000). Fax your dreams to Cynthia Richmond at (818) 783-3267 or e-mail them to in.your.dreams@worldnet.att.net. Please include your hometown and a daytime phone number. “In Your Dreams” appears every Tuesday and should be read for entertainment purposes only.