Thread: I experience my teeth falling out frequently, any ideas why?

Originally Posted by SLF4412986

Hi, so I honestly have been lucid dreaming since I was about 18 (I'm 21 now), but I've also experienced dream control since I was 10 years old.
Currently I've been having these terrible lucid dreams where my teeth are falling out and I can really feel all the gaps and hard toothy parts in my mouth (in my dream) and I feel myself trying to spit my teeth out. Sometimes there is a flow of teeth, more than I know I have in my mouth, but they keep breaking off from the gums, it's such a disgusting feeling to have!
I know I've been quite stressed when I have this particular dream, but does anyone have any suggestions for why teeth and stress are so interrelated in dreams? What in my brain is signaling to me to feel that my teeth are coming out?

I think seeing the dentist/toothache is the most unwelcoming thought on most people's minds. So it's become an icon of trouble and therefore stress related in dreams.

IMJ

I can't really offer much in terms of reason why,
but I can assure you that you're not the only one.
I have these types of dream fairly frequently myself (but not while I'm lucid)
They don't appear during a particular time of stress, rather thye just pop up randomly.

The feeling is horrible though, and I'm always relieved to rush to the mirror in the morning to see that they're all there.

Dreams about teeth are actually quite common and usually represent some form of anxiety/stress.

A more lengthy explanation:

One theory is that dreams about your teeth reflect your anxiety about your appearance and how others perceive you. Sadly, we live in a world where good looks are valued highly and your teeth play an important role in conveying that image. Teeth are used in the game of flirtations, whether it be a dazzling and gleaming smile or affectionate necking. These dreams may stem from a fear of your sexual impotence or the consequences of getting old. Teeth are an important feature of our attractiveness and presentation to others. Everybody worries about how they appear to others. Caring about our appearance is natural and healthy.

In my dream lexicon it says it´s becuse of fear/anxiety or a fear of dying/aging.

I've always assumed it is because you brush your teeth right before bed. It is a very common thing for people to dream about. Think about it, you spend 5 minutes right before sleeping in front of the mirror staring at your teeth. Brush, floss, mouth wash, the whole time thinking "I better take care of my teeth so they don't fall out. Don't let those teeth rot and fall out."

That is exactly how I incubate dream content.

I have always heard that those dream symptoms are related to either grinding your teeth or stress, but have never seen any actual proof.

The only thing I can offer is that I used to love going to the dentist (didn't have my first cavity until 18 yo and thought the cleaning was fun), and I have had dreams with my teeth twisting, crumbling, falling out, and shattering for as long as I can remember. So I don't know if fear of the dentist would be one. If that were the case I would have way more dreams about tornadoes (which I am phobic of) than I do of my teeth falling out!

I do bite my nails and sometimes worry I'll chip a tooth on my nail like a friend did back in 8th grade. That's the only think I can really think of. Maybe it's just because we brush our teeth twice a day?

I always interpret it as meaning that I have something that I am neglecting to take care of. Those little things that you procrastinate on that you know you should just get over with, before they become a bigger issue that you have to deal with.