Mewing is a word that has been trending on social media for weeks, but what is it? Throughout history and in many cultures, a strong, bold jaw has been considered a sign of strength and attractiveness – especially in men. In fact, it is such a desirable trait that some people have gone as far as having jaw implant surgery to give them a wider or broader jaw. But what if there was a way to create the appearance of a stronger jawline that you could do at home without costly or painful surgery?
That’s the idea behind an increasingly popular social media trend known as “mewing.” Mewing refers to a practice developed by a British orthodontist named Dr. John Mew and his son, orthodontist Mike Mew. Mewing involves maintaining proper oral posture to potentially improve your facial aesthetics, including the shape of your jawline. Though neither of the Mews coined the term “mewing,” it has gained its name and popularity through a growing number of social media devotees. But as we all know, just because it’s on social media doesn’t mean it’s real – or safe!
What Is Mewing?
Mewing involves resting your tongue against the roof of your mouth with your teeth slightly apart and lips relaxed. The idea is that consistently maintaining this posture can improve jaw growth and alignment, resulting in a more defined facial structure. However, some question its effectiveness as many people already hold their tongue, jaw, and lips in this way without seeing desired results.
Proponents of mewing believe that it can help patients with issues such as malocclusion (misalignment of teeth), breathing difficulties, facial asymmetry, and more. However, it’s important to note that scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of mewing is very limited, and its claims remain controversial within both the medical and dental communities.
Furthermore, some professionals reason that while proper oral posture is undoubtedly important for the overall health and development of the face and jaw, the idea that mewing could drastically change the shape of the jawline or facial structure is a stretch. Even if it did work, individual results would still vary depending on factors such as genetics, age, and your existing jaw structure.
Does Mewing Work?
So, what’s the bottom line on mewing? While proponents of the practice aren’t wrong that proper resting jaw position is imperative to both oral and overall health, their solution to getting there leaves a lot to be desired.
In fact, there is no real evidence to support it working, and there are inherent risks involved when attempting any changes to your jaw. Your jaw is very complicated, and changing one part of it will most likely affect other parts. This is why it is so important to only attempt modifications under the supervision of a doctor, dentist, or orthodontist.
Damage caused by mewing can include the misalignment of your teeth, the misalignment of both your upper and/or lower jaw, jaw pain, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and even loose or chipped teeth! When it comes to your overall health, the risk is just not worth the reward.
How Can I Change My Jaw Without The Risks Of Mewing?
That being said, if you are interested in changing your facial aesthetics or the shape of your jaw, safe and proven solutions such as orthodontics are available right here at Miami Designer Smiles. Orthodontics can help you not just better to align your teeth but also change facial aesthetics, alleviate jaw pain, and change the appearance of the jaw and, of course, your beautiful smile!
If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you reach your facial aesthetic goals, speak to our dentists about our smile design or orthodontic services. We can help you customize a treatment plan to achieve your oral health and facial aesthetic goals.
To learn more, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Miami Designer Smiles today!