What is mewing and is it worth doing? A doctor talks about a popular technique

Mewing, a new beauty trend, is gaining popularity among people who want to tighten the facial oval without effort. A fairly simple technique promises to change the chin line without cosmetic procedures and surgeries.

Is there any effect from the technique and for whom it is dangerous?

doctor-dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist at the Medical On Group clinic in Lyubertsy.

“Certified specialists – cosmetologists, dermatologists, maxillofacial surgeons and orthodontists – in Russia and all over the world do not practice mewing, as the technique has no evidence base.”

Who invented mewing

Mewing, invented in the 1970s, only gained attention in the 2010s thanks to viral videos and social media platforms.

The originator of the technique is British orthodontist John Mew, who pays special attention to the patient’s appearance in his practice.

He assures that his technique can get rid of night apnea, improve the shape of the jaw, correct the bite and change the oval of the face without the help of an orthodontist.

After decades of research, in 1891, John Mew published a groundbreaking paper in the British Dental Journal. His work showed that proper tongue positioning was crucial for a well-defined jaw and straight teeth. The positive influence of mewing was later promoted by John Mew’s son, orthodontist Michael Mew.

According to Mew’s theory, people’s jaws become smaller due to environmental and lifestyle factors, such as eating soft foods and breathing through the mouth, rather than the traditionally accepted genetic link.

The authors of the technique suggest that jaw shrinkage leads to crowding of teeth and changes in facial shape. According to them, mewing will help to make the jaw bigger and stronger, align teeth and create a more square chin line.

It should be added that in 2017, the UK General Dental Council revoked John Mugh and his son’s dental license. However, this does not prevent them from promoting their technique on the vastness of the Internet, completely rejecting traditional treatments in orthodontics.

Mewing is very similar to multi-functional therapy, but multi-functional therapy, which involves an orthodontist and a speech therapist, utilizes modern corrective methods backed by evidence.

John and Michael Mew did not invent the term “mewing.” It originated from an online movement among people who wanted to change the appearance of their jaw.

What is mewing and how to do it

Mewing is based on a special technique of tongue placement. You need to close your mouth and press your tongue completely against your palate. You should feel the muscles of the jaw tense up. The tip of the tongue should be placed behind the upper front teeth. Its position should be the same as when pronouncing the sound “n”. In this position, the tongue should be held for at least 20 seconds.

Adherents of the technique recommend doing the exercise regularly, – for 2.5-3 months for 10-15 minutes a day, so that the tongue “memorized” the desired position and got used to it. Supporters of this technique claim that mueying gradually changes the general features of the face, especially the chin line, makes the cheekbones more expressive.

It is not worth resorting to this technique without consulting a doctor.

How the face changes after mewing

The main alleged benefit of mewing, as noted by the proponents of the method, is an improvement in the appearance of the face. According to the originator of the technique itself, by increasing the tone of the facial muscles, the exercises expand and sharpen the chin line, as well as contribute to the “ideal” ratio of the size of the nose and chin.

However, there is no scientific evidence or research indicating that mewing can reshape the chin line or help solve other problems. The technique is not currently accepted by any orthodontic organization, and experts say it’s unlikely you’ll see any changes after these exercises.

Dentists and orthodontists sometimes use techniques similar to mewing to treat sleep apnea and tooth misalignment, but it’s part of a structured and proven treatment plan. They also tell people about the possible risks and benefits.

On the Web, many people, including celebrities, post promising before and after exercise photos. However, such images should not be trusted as foreshortening and lighting may play a role here.

Harms of mewing

Some medical experts believe that mewing can even be harmful, for example, in a child, it can lead to impaired growth of the maxillofacial apparatus or even dysfunction of the joints of the jaw. In adults, this technique can cause jaw pain, crooked and damaged teeth.

No technique of this direction can tighten the face oval and remove the second chin, because there is sagging of tissues and stretching of ligaments, it is impossible with the help of exercises to return to the place of the “plump oval”.

What’s more, improper mewing techniques, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, can cause the same problems it’s meant to treat. Among them:

• Bite abnormalities (misaligned teeth);
• pain in the joints of the jaw, surrounding muscles and ligaments, known as TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain.
• loose teeth;
• speech problems;
• swallowing problems.

Is it possible to tighten the facial oval without surgery

It is possible to change the facial oval without surgery. According to the doctor-dermatovenerologist and cosmetologist Daria Muratova, this will help hardware cosmetology.

Various techniques are used, such as, for example, SMAS-lifting on devices Altera, Liftera, Ultraformer, using which you can tighten the oval of the face without surgery. The second technique is the installation of threads.

Thread facelift involves implantation of special threads under the skin, which are biologically compatible with the body. They are placed in a certain direction – so that the soft tissues do not sag.

The use of the above methods of facelift is allowed only when prescribed by a specialist.