Now, here’s something to chew on.

According to written records dating back to B.C, teeth have been a fascinating focus of the conscious and unconscious minds, and a subject of great curiosity. Teeth have been a common topic in dreams, and if you’ve ever had a dream about your teeth falling out or searching frantically for a lost tooth, you’re not alone!

According to psychologists, dreams about teeth reflect:

• Attachment Issues (trying to hold on to something)
• Fear of letting go (to something that was part of your life for a long time)
• Fear of falling
• Fear of losing money
• Fear of rejection and abandonment
• Feeling of embarrassment
• Feeling of a lack of control in a relationship
• Crashing down of goals and dreams
• Fear of loss
• Covering up something
• Fear of sexual impotence

Usually a mirror appears in the dream as a metaphor for self-reflection of soul searching, examining insecurities.

Dreams about teeth may be influenced by: job stress, fear of looking stupid in front of others, looking old, trying to stay young looking, lying to someone, or lacking power in a relationship or at work.

Many cultures, including the Hispanic and Greek cultures, and in Jewish religion, believe that when you dream about loose, rotten, falling, or missing teeth, it indicates that a family member or close friend is very sick, or near death. The Chinese believe teeth dreams of teeth mean something negative relating to speech.

According to the Dream Dictionary, certain teeth even have meanings, in dreams:

• A Wisdom tooth may represent wisdom or knowledge.
• An Eye tooth may be a reference to something you have seen or something you should look at more closely.
• Molars may symbolize something should be chewed on or be given more thought.
• Baby teeth falling out may symbolize maturing and letting go of childish ways.
• A loose tooth may be telling you that you are using words too freely or you are saying more than you should.

Something to sink your teeth into, eh?

Some common teeth dreams

Pulling Teeth: Someone is trying to get something valuable out of you, or you refuse to talk about something

Rotting Teeth: Symbolizes fears, anxieties, decay and decline, image issues or death worries

Broken /Chipped/Crooked Teeth: Broken or fractured self-image, insecurities, or hiding out

Teeth Falling Out:  Embarrassment, anxieties and fears of growing old, being unattractive, or regrets

Crumbling Teeth: Fears of getting old, lifestyle changes or upheavals, or feelings of inner collapsing

Falling or Losing Teeth: Vanity - appearance and growing older anxieties, poor dental health concerns, money worries, dishonesty, embarrassment, fear of rejection, feeling sexually undesirable, worries about death, communication problems, powerlessness, frustration, malnutrition or poor diet concerns

False Teeth: Dishonesty, gossiping, breaking rules, feeling fake around others, saying something that hurt someone’s feelings

So the next time you have a dream about your teeth, relax. You’re now “Armed to the teeth” and your interpretations won’t be like “Pulling Teeth.”