Losing Teeth

Dear Peregrin,

I keep having this reoccuring dream about my teeth falling out and would like to know what this may mean? In my first dream only one tooth fell out and it was one of my back molars and it was loose and just fell out perfectly no cracks or chips just a perfect tooth. Then last night it was in a totally separate dream unrelated to the last dream that 2 more of my molars fell out but this time they cracked when they fell out instead of just perfectly falling out. They did not look rotted and I saw no roots. I am interested as to what this may mean? Tracy

Thank you,

Tracy

Good morning, Tracy.

This particular theme illustrates exactly why I do not like dream dictionaries. There are many "standard" meanings for teeth falling out, and none of them can be applied universally.
Also, none of them take into account when it is that we actually lose our teeth: Once when we are young and once when we are old.

When we lose our teeth the first time, it is a first indication of the end of childhood. We are growing up, losing innocence. The tools which served us well in childhood no longer work for us. Translated to dreams, this could mean childlike behavior rather than baby teeth.

The second time we lose our teeth, it is usually from long use. We are growing old, diminishing, perhaps even dying. Dentures are required, and in dream terms this may mean that we feel less independent, having to rely more upon others.

Both situations are embarrassing, so losing a dream tooth can refer to some sort of public embarrassment. You could be "losing face." Perhaps you were caught "lying through your teeth." Teeth can become broken when you've "bitten off more than you can chew," indicating too much responsibility.

As you can see, by itself the dream symbol can have so many meanings, as to be meaningless.
In your two dreams, you lost molars. The back molars are often referred to as "wisdom teeth" because they grow in later in life, when we presumably gain more wisdom. Losing these teeth could indicate feeling foolish, or learning that something we believed to be a basic truth is in fact not true at all.

If the molars were replacement teeth rather than wisdom teeth, then the dreams could be triggered by something which reminds you of the time in your childhood when you actually lost these teeth.

You're not losing these teeth in a painful way, so I would associate the experience more with growth and maturity. The teeth are not rotten, they just don't fit you anymore - exactly like less mature behavior must also be cast off so that we can grow as individuals.

Everything I've told you must be considered a starting point. You can gain more clues by paying attention to how these dreams made you feel.

Pleasant dreams,

Peregrin