Claudia Picard-Deland, a lecturer and dream researcher at the University of Montreal in Canada, noted, “People around the world and throughout history experience the same dream scenarios.” However, each person interprets these themes in their own unique way.
“It’s striking how often we encounter the same plots or images in our dreams that reflect our worries, fears, and desires,” Picard-Deland remarked.
In recent years, she and other dream experts have analyzed search traffic data and the online platform Dream Moods, which helps users interpret the meanings of their dreams.
Teeth
The most common theme turned out to be the loss of teeth. This topic is most frequently searched by residents of North America and Europe, indicating its prevalence in industrialized regions.
A 2018 study published in the National Library of Medicine revealed that about 40 percent of people worldwide often dream about their teeth falling out, breaking, or decaying.
According to Picard-Deland, the dream of losing teeth may be linked to heightened anxiety or teeth grinding during sleep (bruxism). This theme may also arise in connection with feelings of coldness.
Other studies have indicated that dreams about teeth often occur when people are experiencing significant life changes. However, the exact reason for such dreams remains unclear and is likely unique to each individual.
Snakes
Snakes are also a very common dream symbol that troubles people in various parts of the world. However, according to data from Dream Moods, snakes are most frequently seen in dreams by residents of regions where snakes are prevalent, such as Asia and parts of Oceania.
In these areas, snakes coexist with humans and are a familiar symbol of danger, said Claudia Picard-Deland. She believes that snakes in dreams may also be connected to various cultural symbols or beliefs.
There are other theories regarding the meaning of a snake dream, as reported by Newsweek. For instance, this reptile may be associated with a problematic or toxic person, according to American professional dream analyst Lauri Quinn Loewenberg.
Thus, as Picard-Deland pointed out, the prominence and frequent recurrence of these two themes in people’s dreams have been demonstrated by various studies worldwide. “These themes not only dominate but are also quite common overall. Such a high prevalence of typical themes suggests that the formation of dream scenarios may be regulated by stable and universal mechanisms,” the researcher concluded.