Mewing is a technique involving the placement and posture of the tongue against the roof of the mouth (the palate). Proponents claim that consistently practicing this posture over time can reshape the facial structure, define the jawline, improve breathing, and offer various other oral health benefits. While this idea is not entirely new, it gained explosive popularity under the name “mewing” when social media influencers and certain online forums began promoting it as a non-invasive way to enhance one’s appearance.
The central premise is straightforward: by positioning your tongue in a specific way and ensuring proper oral posture, you exert gentle but consistent pressure on your facial bones. Some advocates believe this pressure can guide the development of the jaw and surrounding bone structure, especially in younger individuals whose facial bones are still growing. Although the medical community holds varying opinions on mewing’s efficacy for altering facial structure in adults, enthusiasts point to anecdotal results and personal testimonies of improved facial symmetry and reduced issues like mouth breathing.
How Mewing Became a TikTok Sensation
TikTok has a unique ability to take niche ideas and turn them into viral trends. The platform thrives on short-form videos, challenges, and transformations that grab viewers’ attention within seconds. Mewing fits perfectly into TikTok’s viral formula for a few reasons:
- Visual Transformations: TikTok users love before-and-after content. People who claim to have practiced mewing for months or years post their pictures or short videos showing improved jawlines, creating a compelling narrative that “mewing changed my face.”
- Simplicity of Execution: It takes only a few seconds to explain the basics of mewing. In a single 15- to 60-second video, creators can demonstrate the correct tongue posture and encourage viewers to try it instantly.
- Community and Engagement: Hashtags like #mewing, #mewingtransformation, and #mewtutorial encourage collaboration, duets, and community-driven challenges. This builds momentum, leading more people to participate.
- Searchability and Curiosity: As more creators and influencers discuss mewing, curiosity spikes. Users search for terms like “what is mewing TikTok,” leading to more traffic and more viral content on the subject.
It isn’t uncommon to find videos with millions of views featuring individuals who attribute major facial changes to mewing. However, behind these short videos lies a more complex story that requires a deeper look at the origins, science, and realistic outcomes of mewing.
Origins and Background of Mewing
Mewing is closely associated with Dr. John Mew and his son, Dr. Mike Mew, both British orthodontists who advocate for a form of orthodontic treatment called “orthotropics.” Orthotropics focuses on guiding facial growth by targeting proper oral posture, tongue position, and breathing. According to the Mews, when children develop correct habits early—like breathing through the nose, maintaining good posture, and ensuring the tongue rests on the palate—it can influence the growth and alignment of their jaws and teeth.
Though the technique is rooted in legitimate orthodontic principles, the widespread social media version—simply referred to as “mewing”—has been distilled into a basic set of instructions about tongue posture. Social media often focuses on the cosmetic potential of a more pronounced jawline rather than the broader orthodontic and craniofacial goals. As a result, the concept of mewing seen on TikTok is essentially a simplified version of orthotropics, primarily emphasizing aesthetics.
The Science Behind Mewing
Oral Posture and Facial Growth
Bones in the face, especially in children and adolescents, can be influenced by consistent forces over time. Orthodontic treatments like braces apply pressure to teeth, causing them to shift position. Similarly, if the tongue rests against the palate properly, certain pressures might influence how the jaw and mid-face areas develop.
Adults vs. Children
It’s important to highlight the different outcomes between children and adults. In children, the facial bones are still growing, which potentially offers more room for guided development. For adults, facial growth has mostly halted, making significant skeletal changes less likely. That said, there may still be minor changes if the posture is maintained consistently—particularly, better definition around the jaw due to tightened muscles and reduced mouth breathing.
Nasal Breathing
Mewing also encourages nasal breathing. When you place your tongue correctly against your palate, it naturally becomes more comfortable to breathe through the nose rather than the mouth. Nasal breathing has numerous health benefits, including better oxygen filtration, humidification of inhaled air, and potentially improved oral health.
Contested Research
While anecdotal evidence about mewing is plentiful, comprehensive scientific studies are limited. The existing orthodontic literature does recognize that orofacial posture and muscle tone can influence jaw growth and dental alignment in children. However, the mainstream orthodontic community often disputes the extent of changes that adults can achieve through mewing alone.
How to Mew Properly
Although mewing techniques vary slightly depending on who you ask, the basic principles are consistent:
- Close Your Lips
Keep your lips sealed gently without strain. This helps maintain a posture that encourages nasal breathing. - Teeth Lightly Touching
Allow your upper and lower teeth to either lightly touch or remain very close without clenching. The goal is to keep your jaw in a relaxed position. - Tongue on the Palate
Place the entire tongue (not just the tip) flat against the roof of your mouth. This includes the back portion of your tongue. This can feel unusual at first if you’re accustomed to letting your tongue rest at the bottom of your mouth. - Focus on the Tip of the Tongue
While you want the whole tongue on the palate, the tip of your tongue should rest just behind your upper front teeth—on the alveolar ridge. - Breathe Through the Nose
Make a conscious effort to inhale and exhale through your nose. Mouth breathing defeats the purpose of mewing and can lead to dryness, potential dental issues, and poor oral posture. - Posture and Alignment
Keep your head level. Don’t jut your chin forward. A forward head posture can strain the neck and jaw. Instead, aim for a straight, tall posture that aligns your ears with your shoulders.
Many beginners find it challenging to keep the back of the tongue on the palate because of a gag reflex or lack of awareness. With practice, you can increase the strength and endurance of your tongue and facial muscles. Some people set reminders on their phones or practice in front of a mirror to ensure they maintain the correct posture throughout the day.
Potential Benefits of Mewing
- Jaw Definition: The most discussed benefit on TikTok is a more chiseled jawline. By strengthening the muscles around the jaw and maintaining proper tongue posture, you may see a subtle difference over time.
- Improved Posture: Mewing often goes hand in hand with better neck and head posture. Aligning the neck and keeping the jaw in a neutral position can improve overall spinal alignment.
- Reduced Mouth Breathing: Mewing encourages nasal breathing. Nasal breathing can reduce dry mouth, help filter out allergens, and potentially improve sleep quality.
- Better Facial Harmony: Some supporters claim that mewing helps in achieving better facial symmetry, particularly around the mid-face area. Though these claims are largely anecdotal, some people do report a more balanced look after consistent practice.
- Enhanced Oral Health: Maintaining correct oral posture can positively impact swallowing patterns and reduce stress on the jaw joints. This may help mitigate certain temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues or teeth grinding, though more research is needed in this area.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Pressing Too Hard
Some newcomers mistakenly press their tongues aggressively against the palate, hoping for faster results. Overly forceful pressure can strain the tongue and jaw, leading to discomfort or even injury. - Focusing Only on the Tip
True mewing involves the entire tongue on the roof of the mouth, not just the tip. Many people place only the tip of the tongue, which is less effective in promoting the claimed benefits. - Clenching Teeth
Clenching can cause tension headaches and jaw pain. The correct position involves lightly touching the teeth or keeping them slightly apart in a relaxed manner. - Ignoring Overall Posture
Mewing is part of a holistic approach to oral posture that involves the position of your head, neck, and shoulders. Slouching or constant forward head posture can hinder your progress. - Expecting Overnight Results
Mewing is a long-term practice, especially if you’re an adult. Don’t expect dramatic changes within days or weeks. Patience and consistency are key.
Debates and Controversies
While TikTok hosts countless positive anecdotes, the broader dental community remains cautious. Some of the main points of contention include:
- Lack of Large-Scale Studies
Although small or retrospective studies exist, mewing doesn’t enjoy a robust body of peer-reviewed research that confirms it can dramatically alter facial structures in adults. - Orthodontic Perspective
Many orthodontists acknowledge that proper oral posture is beneficial. However, they question whether mewing alone can produce significant skeletal changes, especially for adults. - Overemphasis on Aesthetics
Critics argue that mewing content on social media often focuses on aesthetics rather than overall oral health or breathing benefits. This could lead to misunderstandings and potentially unhealthy obsession with facial appearance. - Variation in Individual Results
Genetics, age, and lifestyle factors heavily influence facial structure. Not everyone experiences noticeable changes, which can be disheartening for those hoping for quick transformations.
Despite the controversies, many people still find value in practicing better oral posture. The key is to approach mewing as one facet of an overall healthy lifestyle rather than a miracle fix.
Lifestyle Tips to Support Mewing
1. Maintain Good Posture
Keep your back straight, shoulders relaxed, and your head aligned with your spine. A forward-leaning neck can counteract the benefits of mewing.
2. Develop Nasal Breathing Habits
If you’re accustomed to mouth breathing, practice closing your mouth and breathing gently through your nose. If nasal congestion is an issue, consider consulting an ENT specialist or trying nasal irrigation techniques.
3. Stay Hydrated
Adequate hydration ensures healthy oral tissues, making it easier to maintain correct tongue posture. Dry mouth can hinder the tongue’s ability to stick comfortably to the palate.
4. Chew Healthy Foods
Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables—like apples, carrots, and celery—exercises your jaw muscles and supports facial development (especially important for children). For adults, it still helps keep the jaw muscles active.
5. Exercise Your Facial Muscles
Some people find that specific facial and jaw exercises complement their mewing routine. These can include gentle jaw stretches, soft tissue massages, and even targeted workout routines for facial muscles.
Realistic Expectations and Progress Tracking
Mewing is not a magic wand that guarantees dramatic results for everyone. Several factors influence the extent of change:
- Age: Younger individuals tend to have more pliable facial bones, making structural changes more plausible. Adults may still see benefits, but mostly through improved muscle tone, posture, and better breathing habits.
- Genetics: Some people are genetically predisposed to having a narrower or wider jaw, a certain facial shape, or other characteristics. Mewing can’t override genetics.
- Consistency: Gaining any muscle tone or making postural changes requires time and daily effort. One must stay consistent for months—if not years—to notice subtle changes.
- Diet and Lifestyle: A balanced diet, adequate sleep, stress management, and overall health play a role in how your face and body develop.
- Existing Dental or Orthodontic Issues: If you have significant overcrowding, an underbite, overbite, or other skeletal discrepancies, professional orthodontic treatment may be necessary in addition to mewing.
To track progress realistically, take photos at consistent intervals—say, every three to six months—in the same lighting and angle. That way, you can gauge any subtle shifts in facial structure over time without being misled by day-to-day fluctuations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Mewing Safe?
For most healthy individuals, mewing is generally considered safe when done gently and correctly. However, over-pressurizing the tongue or forcing the jaw to clench can cause strain. Always listen to your body and consult a medical professional if you experience pain or discomfort.
2. How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Results vary widely depending on age, consistency, and individual facial structure. Minor muscular or postural changes can appear within a few weeks or months, but significant skeletal changes, if they occur, can take years.
3. Can Adults Really Change Their Facial Structure with Mewing?
Adults are far less likely to experience major bone restructuring through mewing alone. Most improvements are attributed to better posture, muscle tone, and a shift in how the jaw settles. That said, some individuals do claim noticeable changes in their facial aesthetics over the long term.
4. Does Mewing Only Work for Aesthetics?
Mewing can also improve functional aspects like breathing and oral health. Proper tongue posture supports nasal breathing, which has benefits for overall health. However, the aesthetic angle is what garners the most social media attention.
5. Do I Need Special Tools or Gadgets?
No. You don’t need any special tools or orthotic devices to start mewing. The only requirement is consistent practice of correct tongue and head posture.
6. Are There Side Effects to Mewing?
Possible side effects may include initial tongue soreness or jaw discomfort if you apply too much force. Over time, you should adapt, but if pain persists, consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying issues.
7. Should Children Practice Mewing?
Encouraging children to adopt good oral posture, breathe through their nose, and maintain proper head alignment can be beneficial for jaw development. However, children should always be guided by a dental or orthodontic professional to ensure correct technique and identify any underlying orthodontic problems.
Final Thoughts
Mewing, especially in the context of TikTok, has risen to viral fame because it promises a simple, non-invasive path to facial enhancement. While the concept is rooted in legitimate orthodontic and orofacial principles, its social media portrayal tends to emphasize aesthetic outcomes—sometimes leading to inflated expectations. In reality, mewing should be viewed as one component of a healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, good posture, and consistent oral health practices.
If you’re curious about mewing, remember the importance of patience, consistency, and realistic goals. Significant transformations do not occur overnight, and individual results will vary. If you suspect you have any orthodontic or breathing-related issues, consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not serve as professional medical or dental advice. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical or dental condition or treatment before starting new regimens, including mewing or any other oral posture technique.
