Nightmares About Teeth

[RiceGuy]

Well, never thought I'd be telling anyone about this, but here goes...

I used to have horrible nightmares about my teeth. More often, the tissue under the tongue. In the dreams, that tissue would be separating from the bone, and would become loose in my mouth. Sometimes the lower jaw would be falling off too. If the dream involved the teeth, there'd be many of them loose and falling out at the same time. To say these dreams were frightening would be an understatement.

Now, after going gluten-free and taking some supplements, it dawned on me that I haven't had any of those dreams! Not even one! I Should probably also note that I have been taking glucosamine for TMJ, which has helped the jaw joint immeasurably. While I can't rule out some impact from that, the dreams seemed to have stopped before I started taking it.

Has anyone else had related experiences?

[Wolicki]

Well, never thought I'd be telling anyone about this, but here goes...

I used to have horrible nightmares about my teeth. More often, the tissue under the tongue. In the dreams, that tissue would be separating from the bone, and would become loose in my mouth. Sometimes the lower jaw would be falling off too. If the dream involved the teeth, there'd be many of them loose and falling out at the same time. To say these dreams were frightening would be an understatement.

Now, after going gluten-free and taking some supplements, it dawned on me that I haven't had any of those dreams! Not even one! I Should probably also note that I have been taking glucosamine for TMJ, which has helped the jaw joint immeasurably. While I can't rule out some impact from that, the dreams seemed to have stopped before I started taking it.

Has anyone else had related experiences?

HOw crazy is that? I used to have dreams at least once a week where all my teeth fell out, I had a big presentation to make, and I couldn't get them fixed. Either every dentist was closed, or my insurance kept saying they wouldn't cover it. Haven't had one since going gluten free. Can you hear the Twilight Zone music playing?

[ravenwoodglass]

I used to get those type dreams also. I usually would be standing over the sink washing up and my teeth would be falling like marbles into the sink. I also used to grind my teeth, especially in my sleep which of course contributed to TMJ, fractured teeth and jaw pain. I always attributed the dreams to the grinding, which I don't do any more since I went gluten-free. Amazing how many little oddities we think are 'normal' for us that go away once gluten free.

[Mskedi]

Interesting. I haven't had the tooth-falling-out dream for a long time, either. I can't say for sure that it was when I went gluten-free, but it very well could be -- since I started sleeping, I haven't had many nightmares.

I was always told that that specific dream has to do with stress. It makes sense that if our bodies are less stressed out, then we're less likely to have it.

[jerseyangel]

Wow--I hadn't really thought about it, but I used to get dreams about my teeth too. I have since been diagnosed with TMJ and wear a night guard but back when this would happen, I would dream that my teeth were loose and I would invariably wake up clenching. There were other "teeth" dreams, too, but the details are fuzzy.

It hasn't happened in quite a while--I was diagnosed with the TMJ about a year before Celiac, so hard to know what stopped them. Another thing is that since being gluten-free, I don't remember my dreams much at all. Much less than before.

[Roda]

If you grind your teeth in your sleep it could contribute to the tmj. You can get a bite block or mouth guard to wear at night. The dentist will make a cast of your teeth and send it off to have one made. It helped my husband alot. Plus if you are grinding your teeth it can eventually cause enamal/tooth damage. Never had dreams so I can't comment on that.

[RiceGuy]

Wow! Apparently these sorts of dreams are fairy common. I wonder what it means, especially given the fact that Celiac is known to effect the heath of teeth.

I don't think I have ever been a tooth grinder, but I have had a habit of clenching my teeth for a long time. Much less often now though, but it seems to return when I've eaten something that my digestive system doesn't appear to appreciate.

[mbridget]

My mom is really into dream interpretaion and has told me that when I have these dreams that I was worried about money or security.

[virginiagl]

Very interesting. I too have had a lot of teeth falling out type dreams. I have dreamt that I would wake up and my teeth would be lying around on my bed and pillow. I have dreamt that while brushing my teeth, there would be blood and when I would spit, I would spit out teeth. I have dreamt that I'm at work and any time I'd open my mouth teeth would fall out and clink onto my desk.

Weird!

[Lz-erk]

Dreams about horrific protrusions from my skin have ceased with the omission of gluten, so have most of the odd dreams about my teeth falling out or being twisted, extended or bent unnaturally.

In my experience, dreams about strange mutilations or damages [especially ones which are inexplicable within the dream's context or its "feel"] often have direct meaning.

My tooth decay has slowed dramatically [or basically, stopped] since I quit gluten, and I've also been able to open my mouth, which is a plus. Thanks for the info on glucosamine, but I doubt I'll need it now.

[DonaldandAlanda Evans]

Dreams of teeth falling out means you feel you are losing control of parts of your life.

[starrytrekchic]

Teeth dreams are usually health related--it's your subconscious's way of telling you your health is out of control. I used to have these dreams when I was overweight and out of shape. Once I got into shape and lost the weight, the dreams stopped. That was well before going gluten free--so it's not specifically a celiac thing, just an overall health thing.

Basically your mind is stressed over your health--and you're probably trying to push those fears aside. Your brain still needs to deal with the anxiety, though, which it does through dreams.

[Lil-lulu]

I used to have dreams like this. I asked my dentist and I was grinding my teeth at night and my bite was off. I know sleep with a mouth guard and the dreams have been gone for over a year.

[txplowgirl]

Dreams of teeth falling out means you feel you are losing control of parts of your life.

WOW!, I have had those dreams from the age of 8 when my mom tried to kill herself with a butcher knife and i'm the one that found her. Haven't had those dreams since I left my ex husband. I thought I was weird. lol

[Black Sheep]

I haven't had any dreams of my teeth falling out (but what do 'ya want to be I will now--power of suggestion and all), but I've many awful dreams of my hair falling out in huge clumps. Maybe it has to do with gluten, or maybe it's because my formerly thick and wavy hair that I never had to do anything to is now very baby-fine, thin, and unmanageable. Has been for years, in fact. It's so thin, that several years ago when my doc wanted me to have a hair mineral analysis done, when my husband went to cut the required amount of hair from the back, there wasn't nearly enough. To have enough hair he would have had to cut all of it off, and even then it might not have been enough!

Or maybe these bad dreams are a result of both gluten and fear of losing more hair. I don't know--I've only been off it for a couple of weeks. Hey--maybe my hair will grow back!

[RiceGuy]

I haven't had any dreams of my teeth falling out (but what do 'ya want to be I will now--power of suggestion and all), but I've many awful dreams of my hair falling out in huge clumps. Maybe it has to do with gluten, or maybe it's because my formerly thick and wavy hair that I never had to do anything to is now very baby-fine, thin, and unmanageable. Has been for years, in fact. It's so thin, that several years ago when my doc wanted me to have a hair mineral analysis done, when my husband went to cut the required amount of hair from the back, there wasn't nearly enough. To have enough hair he would have had to cut all of it off, and even then it might not have been enough!

Or maybe these bad dreams are a result of both gluten and fear of losing more hair. I don't know--I've only been off it for a couple of weeks. Hey--maybe my hair will grow back!

Yes, many on this board have had hair fall out due to gluten, and many have had thyroid problems, which also is known to cause thinning/falling hair. I really think that our bodies are trying to tell us these things through the dreams. You might have hypothyroid, so it would be very wise to get tested, if you haven't already. Many report that the natural thyroid hormones work much better than the synthetic stuff too. Check Open Original Shared Link for additional information.

[allisons]

All your teeth falling out is a classic anxiety dream and anxiety is a known complication of celiac, so it makes perfect sense that you'd not get this dream as much anymore.

[nichol]

I have the teeth falling out dreams, the lower jaw been detached dreams, and dreams where my hair keeps falling out too. I do grind my teeth, I have a nightguard, but I still have the dreams. My hair falls out at an alarming rate, it used to be thick and wavy and care-free, now not so much, and talk about unmanagable! I have not gone gluten-free yet, still waiting for biopsy, but I hope when I do, my nightmares will be gone, and maybe, just maybe, my hair will grow back too. It's nice to know that I am not alone.

[chere1020]

This is very strange, I use to dream about my teeth falling out all the time and it wasnt pretty. Since I have stopped the gluten in my diet, I havent had ONE of those dreams. Wow that is very odd, glad this got posted, makes sense.