What It Means When You Dream About Losing Teeth

Traditionally, there’s a saying that dreaming of losing teeth foretells the death of an elder or a relative in the family. At times, a tooth-loss dream and the passing of an elder do seem to occur in close succession. Why might that be? When someone subconsciously senses that an elder may pass away, the mind may use the image of teeth falling out to convey the message. Because teeth are visible bone, losing them symbolizes “the separation of flesh and blood.” Thus, in Zhou Gong’s dream interpretations, dreaming of losing teeth is thought to indicate that a loved one will depart.

Western psychology, by contrast, often interprets tooth-loss dreams as reflecting “the sorrow of aging” or “discarding the old to make room for the new.” For boys, such a dream may express fear of their father. It can also signify worries about “losing face” or “speaking carelessly.” This image can embody two opposing feelings: the sorrow of aging (people lose teeth as they grow old) and the joy of growth (children lose baby teeth to make way for new ones). Regardless of the dreamer’s age, if they feel old or preoccupied with aging, they may have the first type of dream; if they feel they’re growing and replacing the old with the new, they may experience the second.

Based on our predictive experience, dreaming of losing teeth may indicate the following:

• Dreaming that your own teeth fall out suggests you may have an argument with someone. There may also be a risk of water-related accidents, so avoid activities like boating, surfing, swimming, or fishing, and take extra care with other recreational activities.
• Generally, dreaming of losing teeth hints at losing relatives or friends, though it does not necessarily mean death.
• Dreaming that your teeth are loose suggests you have a circle of situational friends, but those relationships may grow distant and ultimately fall away.

Regardless, tooth-loss dreams are generally considered inauspicious. After having such a dream, how can one use feng shui techniques to dispel the bad omen? Teacher Wu Kuan-zhi offers the following methods:

• Male friends can take a bottle of mineral water and, on Ox or Dragon days (which can be checked using a perpetual calendar or the 2011 calendar), pour the mineral water down the exterior walls of tall buildings near their home to dispel the bad omen.
• Female friends can take a clean bowl and a bottle of mineral water and, on Sheep or Dog days (which can also be checked using a perpetual calendar or the 2011 calendar), go to the back wall of their house, pour the mineral water into the bowl, and then pour it against the wall. After pouring, they should return home without looking back.

Other interpretations of dreams related to teeth

• Dreaming of counting your own teeth suggests you may be insulted.
• Dreaming of counting someone else’s teeth is a good sign, indicating you will overcome your enemies.
• Dreaming that your own teeth fall out suggests you will quarrel with someone.
• Dreaming of having a tooth pulled indicates you may soon buy property.
• If a woman dreams of tooth extraction, it suggests that her life will be prosperous.
• If a businessperson dreams of tooth extraction, it indicates that they will make a profitable deal.
• If a farmer dreams of tooth extraction, it suggests a bountiful harvest is on the way.
• Dreaming of a toothache indicates that you will gain wealth.