What Do You Know About Mewing?

Have you seen the trend online about “mewing,” a do-it-yourself way to restructure your face that has been trending on social media? The idea is that by changing your tongue posture, you can redefine your jawline and even align your teeth. You know what they say about things that sound too good to be true, right?

How Mewing Claims to Work

Mewing, a technique that has gone viral, is the act of flattening your tongue against the roof of your mouth in an attempt to define your jawline. Proponents claim it can even realign teeth and improve overall facial aesthetics.

The Real Story

Unfortunately, scientific evidence supporting Mewing’s jawline-sculpting claims is as thin as dental floss. A complex interplay of genetics, bone growth, and muscle development influences facial structure. Simply changing tongue placement isn’t enough to magically correct misaligned teeth, reshape your jawline, and prevent the need for orthodontic treatment. While tongue posture plays a role in facial development, mewing’s promises are, at best, misleading.

How Facial Restructuring Actually Works

Facial restructuring is not simply achievable by changing your tongue’s resting position. It’s a complex process that involves moving jaw bones, facial bones, and soft tissue to alter the shape and alignment of the face and improve aesthetics, functionality, or both. While facial restructuring can occur naturally over time, maxillofacial deformities are usually corrected with orthodontic treatment, a deliberate form of facial restructuring that uses braces, aligners and other orthodontic appliances to apply consistent pressure for gradual change.

Orthodontic appliances use gentle, consistent pressure to shift teeth and influence jaw position. They follow specific biological principles to safely restructure the shape and alignment of a patient’s jaw. In more extreme cases, procedures like orthognathic surgery can reposition jawbones for more dramatic changes.

Mewing has generated significant social media buzz lately. However, there’s no current research that suggests the technique provides any benefit to your jawline or oral health.

The Risks of Mewing

Your tongue is actually one of the strongest muscles in your entire body. Hence, it plays an important role in its complex relationship with your mouth’s other structural elements, such as teeth and bones. Mewing enthusiasts might be surprised to learn that improperly forcing your tongue into unnatural positions may lead to undesired effects.

Tooth Alignment Disruption
Mewing applies pressure to the teeth and jaw, and excessive pressure can disrupt the natural alignment of teeth, particularly if the tongue isn’t positioned evenly across the palate. For example, uneven pressure could push some teeth forward while others remain in place, leading to crooked teeth or gaps.

Bite Problems and Speech Issues
Improper tongue pressure can alter how the teeth and jaw align, potentially causing a malocclusion (underbites, overbites, or open bites), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and speech difficulties. A misaligned bite can place stress on the jaw joints and can affect how air flows through the mouth, leading to discomfort or speech impediments.

Additional, Complex Orthodontic Treatment
If mewing causes or exacerbates dental and jaw misalignments, the resulting problems might require professional treatment. In many cases, these treatments become more complex and time-consuming due to the damage done. For example, if you require braces after mewing for an extended period of time, the treatment may be prolonged due to the additional complications introduced.

So What Should You Do?

If you are concerned about the shape or position of your jaw or the alignment of your teeth, talk to an orthodontist. Attempting to move your teeth, without professional oversight, can have lasting, negative consequences. Orthodontists have completed 4 years of dental school and 2-3 years of an orthodontic residency to learn how to safely move your teeth and develop your jaw.

Drs. Oakley and Christenson use x-rays, oral exams, and intraoral scanners to evaluate your mouth and to develop a treatment plan that is unique to your situation and concerns. Call to schedule your complimentary consultation today – 757-482-7660.