The Science Behind Dreams of Teeth Falling Out
I felt the teeth falling when my body I was inflamed
I have seen many dreams, even some nightmares. But never had this dream of teeth falling, until it happened.
I was 34. We lived in an apartment in Irvine. I was sick from prolonged exposure to cockroach allergen in a San Diego apartment. All my organs and systems were stressed.
Since we had moved to this cleaner, allergen-free new apartment, my healing process had started. But the immune system, once provoked, remains vicious for a long time. It does not heal easily.
I was walking on eggshells, very cautious. No store-bought food, no cosmetics use. No inhalation of laundry fumes or vehicle exhausts. No unnecessary stress. Lots of nature walks, creativity, and restorative pursuits.
But before healing can resume, the body has to go through some kind of withdrawal. I mean, it was in alert, inflammatory mode for a few years. As the allergen antibodies were high and needed to be reduced. The transition towards normal metabolism was going to be tough.
I would feel brain itching, ear ringing and as if I am losing coordination. Skin burned as water hit while taking shower. Blood vessels tingled on drinking water. I had trouble even while gulping sputum and jaw movements. Stiffness was felt in my little finger. A sensation down my facial nerve. I was a physiological mess.
But the most dreaded was the dream of teeth falling. I was staying home and taking daily siestas. Towards the end of the nap, it would start. I would see the upper jaw teeth are dropping one by one, and I am left like a toothless hag. I would wake up with a jolt. I was just in my mid-30s, so it was scary. I would open my phone camera to check the teeth status. They were there, right there embedded in my gum. Sometimes I would run to the bathroom to check in the mirror. It was dreadful.
When awake, it did not happen. At night, with the emotional security of my spouse beside me, it would not bother me. The nightmare of teeth falling did not come. But in the daytime naps, it came every day, for weeks.
At that time, I was researching and publishing a lot on all aspects of inflammation. So, I had formulated theories and hypotheses.
I would say it was the turning point. Because of the absence of allergens in the new house, the inflamed body was attempting to get back to a normal state. The brain was confused that a healthy body which sustained allergen assault for three years is now not under threat anymore. The biochemical pathways were under re-configuration.
The acidic milieu and activated enzymes have made the bond between gums and teeth loose. It was a kind of periodontitis, a inflammatory condition, where the gums can pull away from the tooth, which can loosen the teeth. Literature says periodontitis is a risk factor for heart and lung diseases. It makes sense, as an inflamed body can attack all organs.
The internet says dreams of teeth falling out may symbolize anxiety, and powerlessness. I agree. A sick person is not expected to be exuberant. There is pain and fear of health outcome.
But it will help the sufferers to know it’s more than anxiety. It’s a signal of the body being acidic and inflamed.
Because of the autoimmune response, brain is undergoing encephalitis, inflammation of the active tissues. The high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines is creating neurotoxic effects. In interrupted sleep, the hallucination and delusions are appearing as dreams via the subconscious.
A reader’s article inspired me to write my teeth falling experience. It was about “Why Spaniards Dream of Centipedes” by Imi is typing.... She also conveyed her experience of dreaming of teeth crumbling after eating rich food. I shared with her that it might be due to the sugary-cheesy-fatty food, which is turning to acid and overwhelming the nervous system.
I hope through this personal story, I explained how inflammation impacts our body.
How a crisis that started with cockroach allergen exposure can end up damaging the body in multiple ways.
I shed some light on the enigma of teeth falling dreams, which might be helpful to sufferers.
Let me know, in which circumstances you had teeth falling dreams.