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

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?

Well, the only thing I can really suggest is that grinding your teeth while stressed is a very common thing. Alot of people do it during there sleep, and its really not good for you, in fact it can eventually lead to some really bad dental problems, even to the point where they get so worn down they begin to chip/break away.

Perhaps this is happening and somehow its slipping into your dreams, or even your subconscious is just somehow just using that as a symbol for stress. More often then your dreams represent some sort of abstract symbol, so its probably not that simple. Im sure it could be plenty of other things.. but the first thing that came to mind was grinding teeth due to stress.

If you know someone who lost their teeth or went through some radical/painful dental surgery it may just be a form of a nightmare, really hard to say.. sorry I cant be of any real help. Symbols have very different meanings to different people.

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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?

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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:

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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.

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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.

Tooth dreams are common because just about everyone has experienced some form of tooth problems. Cavities, chipped tooth, being hit in the mouth with a hockey puck. Just brushing and flossing puts a lot of focus on your teeth on a daily basis. I suppose not brushing your teeth before bed might add to the odds of having one of these dreams.

The real hook is the concern people have for their teeth. The prospect of losing your teeth is awful, not to mention the associated horrors of the dentist. This deep rooted concern is like a pit that's easy to fall into, and every time brush you brush your teeth or even think about them, you dig that pit a little bigger.

Dreams have a habit of creating detail in relation to what you are focused on. So the more concerned you are about your teeth, the more you focus on them. The more you focus on them, the more tooth details you will find, and your concern will force you to keep going deeper and deeper. This kind of thing pulls you in like a black hole.

Lucky for you, these dreams are lucid. Once you realize this is happening, you should easily be able to counteract this by ignoring your teeth and focusing completely on something else.