Let’s talk about mewing—the tongue posture trend that’s taken over TikTok, Reddit, and probably your waiting room. If you haven’t had a patient ask, “Doc, does mewing actually work?”—just wait. It’s coming.
As a Zillennial orthodontist, I live in the space where evidence meets emotion, and mewing is the perfect example of a trend that lives in this messy middle. The promise? A sharper jawline, better breathing, and maybe even a shortcut to self-confidence—all by keeping your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth. The reality? Well, that depends on where you look, who you ask, and how much you’re willing to wrestle with the literature.
The Orthotropics Origin Story
Video via Dr. Mike Mew on YouTube
Mewing isn’t just a meme—it’s rooted in orthotropics, a philosophy championed by Drs. John and Mike Mew. The idea: tongue posture and oral habits can shape facial growth, especially in kids. The orthotropics community is passionate, vocal, and sometimes at odds with mainstream orthodontics. But their central question—“Can we guide facial development with function, not just force?”—is worth asking.
Mewing isn’t just a meme—it’s rooted in orthotropics, a philosophy championed by Drs. John and Mike Mew. The idea: tongue posture and oral habits can shape facial growth, especially in kids. The orthotropics community is passionate, vocal, and sometimes at odds with mainstream orthodontics. But their central question—“Can we guide facial development with function, not just force?”—is worth asking.
What the Studies Say (and Don’t Say)
Let’s get honest: the literature is nuanced. There’s decent evidence that muscle function and oral posture influence craniofacial growth in children. Myofunctional therapy (think: tongue exercises and habit correction) can help with certain dysfunctions and airway issues. But for adults? The data gets thin, fast.
A recent review in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery lays it out: after puberty, bones are less malleable. Mewing might help with oral health and breathing, but don’t expect a dramatic jawline transformation. The viral before-and-afters? They rarely come with context—age, genetics, lighting, or even a little Photoshop.
Let’s get honest: the literature is nuanced. There’s decent evidence that muscle function and oral posture influence craniofacial growth in children. Myofunctional therapy (think: tongue exercises and habit correction) can help with certain dysfunctions and airway issues. But for adults? The data gets thin, fast.
A recent review in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery lays it out: after puberty, bones are less malleable. Mewing might help with oral health and breathing, but don’t expect a dramatic jawline transformation. The viral before-and-afters? They rarely come with context—age, genetics, lighting, or even a little Photoshop.
What I Tell My Patients (and Myself)
Here’s the “unwrapped” truth I share with patients—and with myself, when I’m scrolling through yet another #mewing thread:
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For kids and teens: Good oral posture matters. It’s not magic, but it’s meaningful—especially for growing faces.
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For adults: Mewing is low-risk, but it’s not a substitute for evidence-based orthodontics or surgery. If it helps you breathe better or feel more mindful about your health, great. But set your expectations accordingly.
Here’s the “unwrapped” truth I share with patients—and with myself, when I’m scrolling through yet another #mewing thread:
-
For kids and teens: Good oral posture matters. It’s not magic, but it’s meaningful—especially for growing faces.
-
For adults: Mewing is low-risk, but it’s not a substitute for evidence-based orthodontics or surgery. If it helps you breathe better or feel more mindful about your health, great. But set your expectations accordingly.
The Messy Middle
Mewing lives in that unresolved space between hope and hype. It’s not a miracle, but it’s not pure myth either. The best thing we can do as providers is to listen, reflect, and guide—with both empathy and evidence.
So, welcome to the unwrapping. Here, we don’t just cite studies—we wrestle with them. And sometimes, we admit that the answers aren’t as sharp as the jawlines we see online.
References:
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Dr. Mike Mew’s YouTube guide
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Proffit et al., 2004
John R C Mew. The postural basis of malocclusion: a philosophical overview (2005)
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Urie K Lee. Mewing: Social Media's Alternative to Orthognathic Surgery?Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (2019)
What unresolved orthodontic question should we unwrap next? Drop your thoughts below.
Mewing lives in that unresolved space between hope and hype. It’s not a miracle, but it’s not pure myth either. The best thing we can do as providers is to listen, reflect, and guide—with both empathy and evidence.
So, welcome to the unwrapping. Here, we don’t just cite studies—we wrestle with them. And sometimes, we admit that the answers aren’t as sharp as the jawlines we see online.
References:
-
Dr. Mike Mew’s YouTube guide
-
Proffit et al., 2004
John R C Mew. The postural basis of malocclusion: a philosophical overview (2005)
-
Urie K Lee. Mewing: Social Media's Alternative to Orthognathic Surgery?Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (2019)
What unresolved orthodontic question should we unwrap next? Drop your thoughts below.
Very informative !
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. I interviewed the Mews, and even they said the jaws can likely not develop in adulthood,. Now is it possible they can develop at all in adulthood? I don't like to eschew the possibility altogether, as who knows if natura can allow for exceptions---and also it is true that after strokes that affect half the face, there are bone development changes that develop from the different muscular forces, so yes, maybe there is a "possibility" with Mewing. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI also am curious why you did not mention nasal breathing. Nasal air flow according to research I have read is principally responsible for the development of the maxillary sinuses.
So nasal breathing and tongue on the palate should be encouraged in early childhood.