Dream about Loose and Fallen Teeth
Question
Hello Honorable Rabbi,
My name is Sagi Michlof, an 18-and-a-half-year-old soldier in the military police. Two nights ago, I dreamed of a loose tooth that was bleeding, and yesterday I dreamed that all my teeth were falling out and there was blood everywhere. I am a traditional person and am slowly approaching religion (regarding prayers, strengthening my faith, observing Shabbat, etc.). I wanted to know what these dreams symbolize for me... because so far, as far as I know, dreams about teeth are not very good dreams.
Thank you very much for your help.
Answer
Greetings,
If you have had tooth pain or thoughts related to them recently, do not attribute any importance to the dream.
And if you have not had such thoughts recently, then although the chances are very high that this dream has no significance—especially if you are not married or do not yet have children—it is still very advisable to say as soon as possible 'the good interpretation of a dream' (the text appears in the prayer books) before three people, preferably loved ones.
Or you could instead say during the *Shacharit* prayer at the time of 'Birkat Kohanim' the following text (and try to finish reciting the text when the *Kohanim* finish saying 'Shalom,' so that the response of 'Amen' from the congregation will also apply to your prayer)—
Master of the Universe, I am Yours, and my dreams are Yours. I had a dream, and I do not know what it means. May it be Your will, Hashem my God and God of my ancestors, that all my dreams—whether I dreamt of myself or of others, and whether others dreamed of me—be for good, whether they are good, strengthen them and empower them, and may my dreams and theirs be fulfilled like the dreams of Joseph the Righteous. And if they need healing, heal them like Hezekiah, king of Judah, from his illness, and like Miriam the Prophetess from her leprosy, and like Naaman from his leprosy, and like the bitter waters by our teacher Moses, and like the waters of Jericho by Elisha. And just as You transformed the curse of Bilaam the Wicked from a curse into a blessing, so too transform all my dreams for me and for all of Israel for good, and safeguard me and grant me favor and may You see fit in me. Amen.
Sources: Refer to *Shulchan Aruch* *Orach Chaim* (Siman 258, Se'if 5) that a dream about teeth falling out can be a sign of trouble. It is explained in *Mishna Berura* (S'k 18) that if one had tooth pain or thought about something related to teeth, one should not attribute significance to the dream. And the *Biur Halacha* there notes that one without children should not be strict and fast over such a dream on *Shabbat*.
And the advice of saying the good interpretation of a dream is brought in *Shulchan Aruch* *Orach Chaim* (Siman 242, Se'if 1). And it is straightforward that a woman can interpret her dream before three women. And this is stated in the book *Shih *Tefillah* (page 174). However, in *Shut Avnei Yeshfe* part 4 (Siman 34, section A), it has been brought in the name of Rabbi Yisrael *Elyashiv* zt”l, that it is not allowable for a woman to interpret a dream before three women.
And the advice to say Master of the Universe, etc., at the time of *Birkat Kohanim*, see *Shulchan Aruch* *Orach Chaim* (Siman 130) which states to say this text when one has dreamt a dream and does not know its meaning. This text is also beneficial when one dreamt a bad dream, see the collection of letters from the *Chazon Ish* part 2 (Letter 168). And it is also in the book *Orchot Rabbeinu* part 3 (page 206) in his name.
Best wishes,
Hillel Meirs
