Dream Interpretation of Teeth

For Carl Jung, teeth as symbols are often linked to primal instincts, the ability to 'digest' experiences, self-expression, or the need for defense. Losing teeth in a dream may represent a profound psychological transformation, a period of vulnerability and transition in life where one feels a loss of power or confidence. It can symbolize renewal, as new teeth grow to replace old ones. It might also point to issues concerning self-recognition or the need to confront a painful truth. In Jung's broader context, it could relate to latent primal strength, or confronting the shadow, the unaddressed aspects of the self that need to be 'chewed' and internally digested for psychological integration.

Sigmund Freud often linked teeth falling out in dreams to castration anxiety, especially in men, or the fear of aging, death, and loss of physical attractiveness in women. Dreaming of teeth can also express feelings of helplessness or loss of control in waking life, or an internal conflict about expressing aggression or repressed sexual desires. It can symbolize a sense of vulnerability or being exposed to danger. Sometimes, teeth can be a symbol of verbal power and the ability to 'bite' with words, suggesting a struggle with expressing anger or strong desires indirectly or repressed. It may also indicate confronting disturbing truths that require psychological 'chewing'.