Discover what Mewing is, its supposed benefits, and what science says about this trendy face-changing technique.
1) The origin of Mewing, the practice and the objective pursued
1A) Where does the word “Mewing” come from?
If we look it up in the English dictionary, the word “mew” means “meow,” that is, the sound cats make. However, in the context of Mewing, the term comes from the orthodontist’s surname. John Mew, who together with his son Mike Mew, have promoted this technique as a method to improve facial structure.
1B) What is Mewing?
According to Mike Mew, it’s literally a series of exercises and posture management techniques to influence the structure of your face, and thus, your health and appearance. These exercises include placing your tongue against the roof of your mouth and closing your mouth, chewing with your tongue pressed against the roof of your mouth, and even using tape to prevent you from sleeping with your mouth open. This can be detrimental to your health.Another definition given is a postural technique that involves placing the tongue against the palate to improve facial health and appearance.
1C) What is the objective of Mewing?
According to its creators, the objective of this postural technique is align your teeth, define your cheekbones and jaw, and even straighten your nose naturally, with exercises at home and avoiding orthodontic or cosmetic treatments.
2) Promises and contradictions in the dissemination of Mewing
2A) What does the Mewing promise?
The discourse of its creators seems to evolve with each new publication. According to them, practicing this daily, for months and even years, will prevent and treat crooked teeth, change the structure of the face, treat snoring, sleep apnea… However, the speech is full of contradictions.In one of their videos, they admit that Mewing won’t improve health, but then they say it’s important for preventing sleep apnea, TMJ problems, and tooth crowding. They also feature photos of celebrities like Cillian Murphy and Margot Robbie to prove they have jaw lines as if they were from Mewing. But, in fact, Margot Robbie wore braces.
2B) Orthotropics, Biobloc and other invented terms
Investigating what Drs. Mew publish in their website, we can see that they focus mainly onAnother term they have invented: Orthotropics. According to them, Orthotropics is the same as mewing, but with the help of devices used primarily on children, that is, those in their growing years. Furthermore, elsewhere they point out that it is not a treatment, but rather a philosophy or a theory, and that the treatment is actually Biobloc Orthotropics. And what is this? Well, the use of equipment to modify that growth pattern.Now we are starting to understand each other, because it turns out that Using devices in children of growing age to intervene in their development and avoid future problems has been used for many years and is called interceptive orthodontics. Okay, nothing new. So, we’re left with several contradictions and three invented terms: Mewing, Orthotropics, and Biobloc Orthotropics.Furthermore, almost all of the cases published on their website involve children who have received some type of removable device to regulate bone growth and development.
3) How is Mewing done and does it have any real effect?
Several have been published tutorials where they comment that the correct way is to place the tongue against the palate, creating suction, sealing the lips, also maintaining good posture and breathing through the nose. To do this, they recommend exercising with agum stuck to the roof of the mouthand practice lingual mastication, that is, crushing food against the palate to allow it to move forward and expand, thus modifying the facial structure.And if it works, are you going to do this eight hours a day, as recommended, until it becomes second nature? Are you going to stop talking and eating so that your tongue always rests against the roof of your mouth? And at night, when you sleep and the muscles relax, how does your tongue feel? Obviously, relaxed or making involuntary movements.
4) Can the anatomy and physiology of the tongue muscles be modified?
The tongue is a muscular organ involving intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, andLike any other muscle, it can be exercised, right? To understand this, it’s time to review the anatomy and physiology of the mouth and tongue.
4A) Muscles of the tongue:
The tongue is not just one muscle but is made up of 17. Among the muscles of the tongue are the genioglossus, styloglossus, hyoglossus, palatoglossus (or glossoglossus), pharyngoglossus, tonsilloglossus, superior lingual, inferior lingual, and transverse of the language.
4B) Muscles involved in mastication:
As for the muscles of mastication, we have the masseter, temporalis, and internal and external pterygoid.
4C) Is it possible to shape the jaw by exercising these muscles?
If by marking the jaw we mean that it develops and modifies its bone structure, once the growth age is over, It will hardly be possible without the help of equipment or surgery. Furthermore, many of these videos are Photoshopped or use filters to give them a more pronounced appearance. In other cases, the visual effects are due to dermal fillers from plastic surgery or orthodontic treatments.
4D) Hypertrophy of the muscles of the tongue and mastication:
If we talk about hypertrophying muscles, those of the tongue will not affect the outward appearance, but rather the masticatory muscles—such as the temporal and masseter muscles—are likely to be the ones that influence it. In fact, the masseter muscle is usually more marked or hypertrophied in people witch doctors. Therefore, these muscles can hypertrophy with overstimulation, but not due to Mewing or walking around moving the tongue.
4E) What are the consequences of hypertrophying the masticatory muscles?
Many jawline exercises promoted online focus on overstimulating these muscles and even sell devices that act as teething rings to exercise them. This over-exertion can overload, wear down, and cause TMJ problems, just as it can in people who chew gum daily.
5) The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and actual treatments
5A) What is the Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ?
The Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ It’s a joint that’s in use practically all day long for speaking, breathing, and eating. It doesn’t require any stimulation other than normal daily stimulation.
5B) Is it possible to modify bone structures in adults?
Yes, but not by doing exercises on your own. The sutures that connect the bones of the skull fuse as we grow. In adulthood it is very difficult to achieve bone changes without equipment or surgery, with a few exceptions. The only thing that can be achieved with continuous pressure—as occurs with the tongue in people with tongue thrust—is to move the teeth, since they have ligaments that, through continuous pressure or tension, can generate or reabsorb bone. And this is precisely the foundation of orthodontics.
5C) What are MARPE and SARPE techniques?
To expand the palate in adults, a surgical technique called MARPE or SARPE, depending on the type. It involves anchoring a device to the palate and activating it to open the suture. It doesn’t allow the maxilla to advance, only expand it. Another way to modify the bones is through orthognathic surgery, where the jaws are cut and repositioned.
5D) What other techniques exist to alter the bite?
It is also possible to modify the position—not the size—of the jaw by altering the shape of the patient’s bite. For example, by cause the jaw to rotate or advance. These types of changes can lead to significant aesthetic and functional improvements. The basis for this movement lies in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which allows the mouth to open and close. This joint consists of the mandibular condyle, the articular fossa, and the articular disc. It has a certain range of rotation and translation. When the condyle is not in its correct position, it can cause problems and pain. Repositioning it can lead to a change in the position of the jaw and, therefore, also aesthetically.
But again, this is what the orthodontic specialty has been dealing with for many years.
6) Dangers of generalizing and spreading without diagnosis
6A) It is necessary to know the personal characteristics of each patient before recommending a treatment.
It is totally irresponsible to spread exercises or treatments on the Internet without knowing the individual characteristics of each patient. Let’s suppose the Mewing works and it’s performed by a person with an asymmetry or joint problems. That could cause a bigger problem.Or is the tongue able to identify which area to press to correct this asymmetry? And another question: To what extent would it be possible to advance and expand the jaw? If you spend your whole life doing Mewing, would your face look like a zebra’s or would it widen like a hippopotamus’s? Would your tongue also grow as this space is created? Many unanswered questions. Even the creators themselves warn that doing these exercises can have consequences if you have any TMJ problems. This is extremely serious, so each case must be diagnosed individually before any treatment is applied.
7) Real alternatives to Mewing and professional diagnosis
7A) How can I contour my jaw or change my appearance as an adult?
The safe way to do this is by using a orthodontic treatment, orthognathic surgery or cosmetic surgery.
7B) How do I know what type of dental treatment I need?
The most important thing is to make a complete craniofacial diagnosis, including 3D scanning, molds, bite registrations, photographs, and other tests such as MRIs or condylographs. This data is used to compile a comprehensive study and report on the condition of your mouth, teeth, bones, joints, and their relationship. Based on these results, the type of treatment can vary greatly.
7C) Does our bite affect our body posture?
Of course, posture influences health and the way we bite, and vice versa. ButBy voluntarily correcting our posture, we are not going to change the shape of our bite.. It’s rather the opposite: A change in the shape of the bite can result in better body posture. In fact, maintaining an upright posture depends on four main factors: the position of the eyes, the way you bite, the position of your feet, and the inner ear, where the center of balance is located.
7D) Keeping your tongue on the palate and breathing well won’t make any difference?
Yes and no. We must distinguish between the growth stage and adulthood. For example, a bad habit such as thumb sucking or using a pacifier at an early age and for a long time can cause bone and dental malformations. Similarly, avoiding certain habits and promoting healthy ones, such as proper swallowing and breathing, can help redirect growth. In adults, however, the effects are limited to the teeth and soft tissue.
8) Speech therapy, orthodontics and aesthetic health
8A) Can a bad habit that affects my breathing, speaking, or swallowing be corrected as an adult?
Yes, it can be corrected. The essential thing is a good diagnosis to determine the source of the problem. In fact, there is a discipline called speech therapy (or phonoaudiology) that focuses on modifying and helping develop correct swallowing patterns, mouth breathing, etc. Sometimes, simultaneous speech therapy and orthodontic treatment are necessary. Furthermore, these habits can have an aesthetic impact. For example, mouth breathers often have dark circles under their eyes, a hypotonic upper lip, lip incompetence, etc., so treatment will also improve their aesthetic appearance, not just their functional one.
9) Is it true that the Mewing eliminates snoring and sleep apnea?
The sleep apneas Sleep apneas can be of various types: obstructive and central. The first step, as always, is to make a correct diagnosis. Obstructive sleep apneas occur when the tongue relaxes while we sleep, obstructing the airway. The causes can be multiple: having a narrow airway, bite problems, obesity, enlarged tonsils, etc.The treatment, therefore, will depend on the origin. Mewing, as we’ve already seen, isn’t capable of generating structural changes in adults, and even if it worked, it wouldn’t be a universal solution for treating all causes of apnea. Therefore, we must be very careful with what we make so as not to mislead people.
10) The alleged scientific evidence of the Mew doctors
There is an association calledInternational Association of Facial Growth Guidance Orthotropics, which, interestingly, was created by the Mew doctors. Let’s analyze those articles.
10A) Analysis of Dr. Mew’s study on twins treated with Orthotropics
He first article deals with facial changes in twins treated with Orthotropics or fixed appliances. Starting from the fact thatOn their website they say that Orthotropics is a philosophy, not a treatment, but in the article it appears as a treatment, so we’re off to a bad start. They say the treatment is actually called Biobloc Orthotropics, meaning using braces to modify growth. Does that sound familiar? Interceptive orthodontics, so nothing new, and nothing to do with the definition of mewing.The article analyzes the changes in 12 children after 10 years using fixed or removable appliances. And the results are evaluated based on what a panel of 12 judges find most attractive. Yes, facial attractiveness is literally measured as a scientific criterion, and they conclude that those treated with Orthotropics are more attractive, even though there were hardly any differences at the dental level. In other words, what they supposedly demonstrate is sloppy and highly subjective.
10B) Philosophical reviews are not valid scientific evidence
He second articleIt is a philosophical review, as the title itself indicates. Conclusion: These articles are not valid scientific evidence.
10C) Adult cases treated with Orthotropics
On their website they have several cases on adults treated with Orthotropics. Let’s analyze one of those published cases: It is about a patient treated with Orthotropics, a device called Mew Vector Guide, a palatal expander called EMSE (which serves to expand the palate) and also postural exercises.First of all, do you know what animation they use in one of their promotional videos to show how palatal expansion works? Indeed: a video from our channel.As you can see, treating an adult patient already includes much more than just placing the tongue against the palate. Furthermore, they require their patients to meet certain criteria: be under 35 years old, have no TMJ problems, be symmetrical, and be motivated. Almost nothing. Then they make videos claiming anyone can achieve results… misleading advertising.
11) Marketing and contradictions
11A) Mewing and Internet and Social Media Tricks
There are people on social media who claim that Mewing works for them and have “before and after” photos and videos. Personal opinions such as “it works for me” or “many doctors think the same” have no scientific validity. Furthermore, many of those claiming these changes are children or teenagers who have simply grown, changed weight, or are posing for photos with their tongues twisted. Others use filters, Photoshop, or have even undergone orthodontic treatment with conventional braces.And others, as we have seen, have actually undergone orthodontic treatment with various appliances: fixed, removable, expansion, maxillary, etc.
11B) Can the Mewing trend affect scientifically supported orthodontic treatments?
The truth is that, even if they don’t want to admit it, they are indirectly giving value to orthodontic treatments, which yes, they are scientifically supported. As we have already seen, these structural and aesthetic changes do not occur with the Mewing.
– “Of course, Dr. You should say this because otherwise your business will end, since people could correct their dental problems by doing Mewing, which is free”.
As we’ve already seen, these changes aren’t going to happen just by doing Mewing, and even if it worked, my job wouldn’t be affected by people doing tongue exercises. Being a dentist is much more than that.
11C) How do its creators defend Mewing?
Furthermore, Dr. Mew also notes that orthodontic and orthognathic surgery treatments are very expensive, can involve risks, and that orthodontics often only considers the position of the teeth, not the underlying cause, such as tongue position or breathing.
I can assure you that good orthodontic professionals take that and much more into account.
11D) What tools do the creators of Mewing offer?
The Mew DoctorsThey claim that you can save money on orthodontics by doing their methods with the Mew App, an app that costs £3,500 and can be purchased for just £25 a month. It gives you access to exercises, recommendations, and the ability to upload photos and view your progress. In short, this entire system combines Mewing, Orthotropics, Biobloc, treatments for children, adults, with and without equipment… and ultimately all with the same goal: to sell their book.
11E) What is the techniqueSimon’s to highlight the cheekbones?
Of course, the marketing and hype surrounding this is incredible. In fact, I myself created a prank video, which has gone viral, inventing a technique calledSimon’s to highlight the cheekbones. It had more than 10 million views. It’s that easy to create a hoax that goes viral on social media. So much so that Netflix just released a documentary about this whole Mewing movement.
12) Conclusion
Promoting a treatment online without properly studying the patient, as a doctor and dentist, is totally irresponsible and dangerous. And even more so if these exercises supposedly had the effect they claim, because they could cause serious problems if applied uncontrolled.
In the Pardiñas Dental Clinic of A Coruña we have a team specialized in orthodontics, oral surgery, and oral health that will help you evaluate the most appropriate options for you.
Don’t trust internet fads: consult with professionals.
