Mewing: The Tongue Exercise That Claims to Reshape Your Jawline
Mewing is a tongue exercise that claims to reshape your jawline, improve your facial appearance, and enhance your health. But what is mewing, how do you do it, and does it really work? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more, as we explore the origins, benefits, and controversies of mewing.
Table of Contents
·
What is Mewing?
·
How to Mew?
·
What are the Benefits of Mewing?
·
Does Mewing Work?
·
What are the Risks and Limitations of Mewing?
·
What is Mewing?
Mewing is a technique that involves placing
your tongue on the roof of your mouth, also known as the hard palate, and
maintaining this posture throughout the day. The idea is that by doing this,
you can change the shape of your jawline, make your face more symmetrical, and
improve your breathing, posture, and speech.
Mewing is named after Dr. Mike Mew, a British
orthodontist who popularized the technique on YouTube and other social media
platforms. However, mewing is not a new concept, as it is based on the
principles of orthotropics, a branch of dentistry that focuses on the growth
and development of the face and jaws. Orthotropics was founded by Dr. John Mew,
the father of Dr. Mike Mew, in the 1960s.
According to orthotropics, the shape of the
face and jaws is influenced by the position and function of the tongue, lips,
and teeth. By correcting these factors, orthotropics aims to prevent or treat
malocclusion, which is the misalignment of the teeth and bite. Orthotropics
also claims to prevent or treat other conditions, such as sleep apnea, snoring,
sinusitis, and TMJ disorder, which are related to the structure and function of
the mouth and airway.
Mewing is one of the methods that orthotropics
uses to achieve these goals. By keeping the tongue on the roof of the mouth,
mewing is supposed to stimulate the growth and expansion of the upper jaw, also
known as the maxilla, and the lower jaw, also known as the mandible. This, in
turn, is supposed to create more space for the teeth, improve the alignment of
the bite, and enhance the appearance of the face.
How to Mew?
Mewing is a simple technique that anyone can
do, regardless of their age or gender. However, it requires practice, patience,
and consistency, as it may take months or years to see any results. Here are
the steps to mew correctly:
1. Close your mouth and
breathe through your nose. This is important, as mouth breathing can cause the
tongue to drop to the bottom of the mouth and the jaw to slacken, which can
affect the shape of the face and the health of the airway.
2. Place the tip of your
tongue behind your front teeth, where the gum meets the roof of your mouth.
This is the starting position of mewing.
3. Flatten the rest of
your tongue against the roof of your mouth, covering as much area as possible.
You should feel a slight pressure in your mid-face and chin. This is the proper
tongue posture of mewing.
4. Maintain this tongue
posture throughout the day, as much as you can. You can swallow, talk, and eat
normally, but try to return to this tongue posture as soon as possible. You can
also practice mewing at night, by keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth
before you fall asleep.
5. Repeat this process
every day, until it becomes a habit. You may experience some discomfort or
soreness in your tongue, jaw, or face at first, but this should subside over
time. You may also notice some changes in your facial appearance, such as a
more defined jawline, a higher cheekbone, or a straighter nose, but these may
take months or years to become noticeable.
What are the Benefits
of Mewing?
Mewing is claimed to have various benefits,
both for cosmetic and health purposes. Some of the benefits of mewing are:
·
Improved facial appearance: Mewing is supposed to improve the facial appearance by making
the jawline more square, the cheekbones more prominent, the nose more
symmetrical, and the face more balanced. Mewing is also supposed to reduce the
appearance of a double chin, a receding chin, or a long face, by lifting and
tightening the facial muscles and skin.
·
Improved dental health: Mewing is supposed to improve the dental health by creating
more space for the teeth, preventing crowding, crookedness, or gaps. Mewing is
also supposed to improve the alignment of the bite, preventing overbite,
underbite, or crossbite. Mewing is also supposed to prevent or treat
malocclusion, which can cause tooth decay, gum disease, or tooth loss.
·
Improved breathing and posture: Mewing is supposed to improve the breathing and posture by
opening up the airway, reducing mouth breathing, and promoting nasal breathing.
Mewing is also supposed to prevent or treat conditions such as sleep apnea,
snoring, sinusitis, and TMJ disorder, which are related to the structure and
function of the mouth and airway. Mewing is also supposed to improve the
posture of the head, neck, and spine, by aligning the jaw and the skull.
·
Improved speech and swallowing: Mewing is supposed to improve the speech and swallowing by
strengthening the tongue, lips, and throat muscles, and improving their
coordination. Mewing is also supposed to prevent or treat speech disorders,
such as lisping, stuttering, or slurring, which are related to the position and
function of the tongue, lips, and teeth. Mewing is also supposed to prevent or
treat swallowing disorders, such as dysphagia, which are related to the
movement and sensation of the tongue, lips, and throat.
Does Mewing Work?
Mewing is a controversial technique that has
gained a lot of popularity and attention on social media and other websites.
However, there is not enough scientific evidence to support the claims that
mewing can actually change the shape of the jawline and the face, or improve
the health of the mouth and airway.
Most of the evidence for mewing comes from
anecdotal reports, before and after pictures, and YouTube videos, which are not
reliable sources of information. These sources may be influenced by factors
such as lighting, angle, expression, makeup, or editing, which can affect the
appearance of the face and the jawline. These sources may also be biased,
exaggerated, or fabricated, which can affect the credibility of the results.
There are also some studies that have examined
the effects of tongue posture and function on the growth and development of the
face and jaws, but these studies have limitations and inconsistencies. Some of
these studies have found that tongue posture and function can influence the
shape and size of the upper and lower jaws, especially during childhood and
adolescence, when the bones are still growing and remodeling. However, other
studies have found that tongue posture and function have little or no effect on
the shape and size of the upper and lower jaws, especially during adulthood,
when the bones are more stable and resistant to change.
Therefore, the evidence for mewing is weak and
inconclusive, and more research is needed to determine the efficacy and safety
of mewing. Mewing may work for some people, but not for others, depending on
factors such as age, genetics, diet, lifestyle, and compliance. Mewing may also
have some benefits, but not as much as claimed, or not for the reasons claimed.
Mewing may also have some risks and limitations, which should be considered
before trying it.
What are the Risks and
Limitations of Mewing?
Mewing is not a miracle technique that can
transform your face and health overnight. Mewing has some risks and limitations
that you should be aware of before trying it. Some of the risks and limitations
of mewing are:
·
Difficulty and discomfort: Mewing can be difficult and uncomfortable to do, especially at
first, as it requires practice, patience, and consistency. Mewing can cause
some pain or soreness in your tongue, jaw, or face, as you are using muscles
that you are not used to. Mewing can also interfere with your normal
activities, such as talking, eating, or sleeping, as you have to maintain your
tongue posture throughout the day and night.
·
Lack of results: Mewing may not produce the results that you expect or desire,
or it may take a long time to see any results. Mewing may not change the shape
of your jawline or face, or it may change it in a subtle or insignificant way.
Mewing may not improve your health or function, or it may improve it in a minor
or temporary way. Mewing may also have different results for different people,
depending on factors such as age, genetics, diet, lifestyle, and compliance.