Several Dream Theories May Apply

Dear Nancy: I have had this dream several times a year over the last 20 years. Now that I’m going through a divorce, I’m having them even more often, sometimes twice a week. Other elements of the dream may change, but this part is always the same. I always wake up frantically checking my teeth.

I notice that I have a crack in one of my teeth and suddenly it just falls to pieces and drops out of my mouth. Then, to my horror, all my teeth crumble slowly, from one to the next, and fall out.

Dear Gail: The loss of teeth in dreams is not uncommon and yet it is one of the most disturbing dreams a person can have. There are several different theories about these crumbling-teeth dreams. Here are some of them:

Teeth enable us to chew and can be symbolic of “chewing something over” in your mind to better understand it. The loss of them might depict the inability to understand a given situation or person in your life.

Do you have fears about getting older or being unattractive? Our fears are often reflected in our dreams.

Teeth can be a symbol of aggressiveness or assertiveness. The loss of them might depict the sense of losing power or effectiveness in one’s life. At the time of these dreams was there a situation or conflict that you felt unable to resolve?

Dreams involving loss of teeth can also be triggered by a feeling of having “lost face” or of being humiliated in some way. It’s always important to review the previous day’s experiences and conversations to see what may have prompted this dream. The fact that you have had it many times suggests that, whatever the situation, it is an ongoing problem.

It may be a warning to see your dentist! Dreams often have literal meaning, especially dreams regarding the body. Do you physically grit your teeth and damage them? If you have other dental or gum problems, it may be a warning dream.

Going through a divorce can be difficult, Gail, and I can see where all of these theories may apply to you at this time. You might want to have your teeth cleaned or whitened, creating positive feelings about them. Also, if this were my dream, I would want to signal my psyche that all is well by sitting quietly and imagining I have beautiful, clean and healthy teeth.

Reader’s tip

Often dreams highlight other parts of the face. Sometimes the features are depicted in odd ways so they will stand out. Here are some examples:

The head in general represents the mind, intellectual power, ideas of the dreamer.

Ears represent the willingness and ability to listen. Perhaps you need to pay attention to what others are saying.

Eyes are indicators of how we see things. Are they open and aware or closed or blind, indicating a lack of receptivity or fear of seeing the truth of a person or situation?

Are you being “nosy?” Perhaps you should be minding your own business or, depending on the context of the dream, it may suggest that you get curious about something.

Hair often symbolizes the things that are growing out of our head, namely our thoughts, ideas or creativity. Are you giving yourself a new hairstyle? You may be updating your attitudes and beliefs or changing the way you express yourself. Losing your hair can mean losing your sense of power and expression.