Dream About Broken Teeth

Shalom and blessings,

If you have recently experienced tooth pain or had thoughts related to it, you should not attribute any significance to the dream.

However, if you have not had such thoughts recently, although statistically it is likely that the dream has no meaning—especially if you do not yet have children—it is still very advisable to recite 'Hatachat Chalom' as soon as possible (the text is found in prayer books) in front of three people, preferably those who have your best interests at heart.

Alternatively, you can attend the Shacharit prayer and recite the following text during the 'Birkat Kohanim' (the Priestly Blessing), trying to finish your recitation just as the Kohanim say 'Shalom', so that the congregation's response of 'Amen' also applies to your prayer:

"Ribbono Shel Olam, I am Yours and my dreams are Yours; I had a dream and do not know what it means. May it be Your will, Hashem, my God and God of my ancestors, that all my dreams be for good for me and for all Israel, whether I dreamed about myself or whether I dreamed about others, and whether others dreamed about me. If they are good, strengthen and support them, and may they be fulfilled for me and for them as the dreams of Yosef the Righteous. And if they need healing, heal them just as Hezekiah the king of Judah was healed from his illness, and just as Miriam the prophetess was healed from her tzara'at, and just as Naaman was healed from his tzara'at, and just as the waters of Mara were sweetened by our teacher Moshe. Just as You transformed the curse of Bilaam the wicked from a curse into a blessing, so too may You transform all my dreams for me and for all Israel into good, and guard me, and have mercy on me, and accept my prayer. Amen.

Sources: See Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim (Siman 285, Sif 5) where it states that a dream about teeth falling out can be a bad sign. It is explained in the Mishnah Berurah (S"k 18) that if one has had tooth pain or has thought about something related to teeth, the dream should not be taken seriously. The Biur Halacha there states that one without children should not be stringent to fast on such a dream on Shabbat.

The advice of Hatachat Chalom is mentioned in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim (Siman 244, Sif 1). It is obvious that a woman can recite this before three women. This is stated in the book She'erit Tefillah (p. 193). However, in the responsa Avnei Yesha 4 (Siman 34, Section 1), it is cited in the name of Rav Elyashiv zt"l that a woman should not recite Hatachat Chalom in front of three women.

The advice to say Ribbono Shel Olam, etc. during Birkat Kohanim can be found in Shulchan Aruch there (Siman 134) where it is said when one has a dream and does not know its meaning. This text is also effective when one has a bad dream, see Koveitz Igrot of the Chazon Ish, Part 2 (Igrot 260). This is also referenced in the book Aruchot Rabbeinu Part 3 (p. 249) in his name.

Best wishes,

Hillel Meirs