Mewing: What It Is, 5 Risks, And What Experts Say
Explore the viral tongue posture technique called mewing: its origins, purported benefits, scientific evidence, and potential risks.
Mewing is a popular DIY technique involving specific tongue posture to potentially enhance jawline definition and facial aesthetics. Promoted on social media, it lacks strong scientific validation and carries risks like jaw misalignment.
What Is Mewing?
**Mewing** refers to the practice of positioning the entire tongue flat against the roof of the mouth, with lips closed and teeth lightly touching, as a resting posture. Named after British orthodontist Dr. John Mew and his son Dr. Mike Mew, it stems from
orthotropics
, a theory emphasizing proper oral posture to guide facial growth, particularly in children.The technique promotes nasal breathing, correct swallowing, and head alignment to supposedly prevent or correct issues like recessed chins or weak jawlines. Unlike traditional orthodontics focusing on braces, mewing claims to harness natural forces from tongue pressure for structural changes.
How to Mew: A Step-by-Step Guide
Proper mewing technique requires consistent practice. Here’s how:
- Tongue placement: Flatten the whole tongue against the palate, pressing the back third firmly without straining.
- Lips together: Seal lips naturally without force.
- Teeth position: Lightly touch upper and lower teeth or leave a slight gap.
- Breathing: Breathe through the nose exclusively.
- Swallowing: Swallow with tongue maintained on palate, avoiding cheek or throat pushing.
Practice 24/7 as a resting posture. Results, if any, may take months to years, mainly in growing adolescents.
The History and Origins of Mewing
Dr. John Mew developed orthotropics in the 1970s, arguing poor modern habits like mouth breathing cause facial deformities treatable via posture correction over braces. His son Mike popularized “mewing” online via YouTube, gaining millions of views despite controversies.
The MeWs faced professional backlash; Mike Mew was removed from the British Orthodontic Society in 2019 for unproven claims. Despite this, mewing exploded on TikTok and Instagram among teens seeking defined jawlines without surgery.
Does Mewing Actually Work?
No robust clinical evidence supports mewing reshaping adult facial bones or jawlines significantly. In children, proper tongue posture may influence growth positively, but adult skeletal changes are minimal post-puberty.
Anecdotal reports claim sharper jawlines, better breathing, and reduced snoring after months. However, studies show no altered muscle activity from tongue positions predicting structural shifts. Changes seen are likely soft tissue improvements, posture, or puberty-related.
| Claimed Benefit | Evidence Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Defined jawline | Anecdotal | Possible muscle tone improvement; no bone remodeling in adults |
| Nasal breathing | Moderate | Encourages habit change |
| TMJ relief | Low | May worsen if improper |
| Sleep apnea aid | Anecdotal | Unproven |
Potential Benefits of Mewing
Proponents cite:
- Improved
posture
and head-neck alignment from consistent practice. - Shift to nasal breathing, potentially reducing mouth breathing issues.
- Enhanced swallowing patterns via myofunctional therapy elements.
- Subjective jaw muscle toning for firmer appearance.
- Possible aid for mild speech or breathing habits in youth.
These align with supervised myofunctional therapy but lack mewing-specific trials.
Mewing Risks and Downsides
Mewing isn’t risk-free, especially unsupervised:
- TMJ disorders: Excessive pressure aggravates jaw pain.
- Tooth misalignment: Uneven tongue force shifts teeth.
- Bite changes: Potential malocclusion or gaps.
- Muscle hypertrophy: Overuse bulks masseters, widening face.
- Obsession delay: Users skip proven treatments like orthodontics.
Dentists warn against it for lacking oversight; devices marketed as mewing tools often lack safety testing.
What the Experts Say About Mewing
“Mewing is unlikely to remodel adult facial bone predictably. It influences muscle tone and posture at best.”
Orthodontic bodies like AAO state tongue posture aids development but mewing’s DIY extremes risk harm. Medical News Today notes all support is social media-based, no peer-reviewed proof.
Experts recommend consulting professionals for jaw concerns over viral trends.
Mewing vs. Medically Accepted Methods
Mewing contrasts with evidence-based options:
| Method | Mechanism | Evidence | Risks | Oversight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mewing | Tongue posture habit | Anecdotal | TMJ, misalignment | None |
| Orthodontics | Braces/aligners | High | Low | Dentist |
| Masseter Botox | Muscle slimming | High | Minimal | MD |
| Fillers/Surgery | Structural augmentation | High | Surgical risks | Surgeon |
Posture supports function; clinical methods deliver structural results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is mewing in simple terms?
A tongue exercise where you rest it fully on the mouth’s roof to improve jaw appearance.
Does mewing work for adults?
Limited evidence; unlikely to change bones. May tone muscles slightly.
How long until mewing results?
Anecdotes say months to years; consistency required with uncertain outcomes.
Is mewing safe?
Potentially harmful if overdone: risks TMJ, bite issues. Consult a professional.
Who invented mewing?
Dr. Mike Mew, building on his father Dr. John Mew’s orthotropics.
Can mewing fix overbite or underbite?
No; requires orthodontics or surgery, not DIY posture.
Final Thoughts
While mewing promotes healthy habits like nasal breathing, its jaw-sculpting claims exceed evidence. Prioritize professional evaluation for facial concerns to avoid risks.
References
- How Do We Define Mewing in Contrast to Medically Accepted Jawline Enhancement Methods? — Perfect B. 2023. https://www.perfectb.com/how-do-we-define-mewing-in-contrast-to-medically-accepted-jawline-enhancement-methods/
- Does mewing work? What the research says — Medical News Today. 2023-10-12. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mewing
- Everything You Need to Know About the Mewing Craze — Healthline. 2023. https://www.healthline.com/health/mewing
- Mewing is the jawline trend gaining popularity in the modeling industry — Women’s Health Magazine UK. 2024. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/beauty/skin/a63756342/mewing/
- Does Mewing Actually Reshape Your Jaw? — American Association of Orthodontists. 2023. https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/is-mewing-bad-for-you/
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