Chronic Conditions 3 MIN READ 2181 VIEWS August 30, 2023

Mewing: What is It? Is It Worth Trying?

Written By HealthKart
Medically Reviewed By Dr. Aarti Nehra

In recent years, a technique called mewing has gained popularity as a means to achieve a well-defined jawline and facial symmetry. Mewing involves specific tongue posture and exercises to improve the positioning of the jaw and facial muscles. This blog post will discuss mewing, its efficacy, and possible adverse reactions associated with it. Furthermore, we will summarise mewing exercises that can help to give you a sharp jawline.

What is Mewing?

Dr John Mew was a British orthodontist who came up with this method, now referred to as the mewing technique. Mewing revolves around keeping a proper tongue position where you press your tongue upward against the roof of the mouth immediately behind the front teeth. Correct tongue posture is believed to promote good craniofacial development and facial attractiveness.

How Does Mewing Work?

The underlying principle of mewing is based on the idea that the modern diet rich in ready-made products and bad oral habits supports abnormal growth of the jawbone and the face. By mewing, an individual can maintain a correct tongue position. People practise this oral activity to reshape their faces and enhance their jawlines.

Mewing Technique:

To practise mewing, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth: Put all parts of your tongue, starting from its tip to the back, on top of the roof of your mouth. Ensure your tongue touches the soft palate at its back.

2. Maintain a relaxed jaw position: Your teeth should be slightly parted while mewing; keep your jaw muscles relaxed. Do not bite your teeth together, nor grind them.

3. Practice consistently: Mewing is not a quick solution; it must be done repeatedly and consistently. Aim at turning proper tongue positioning into a good habit.

Does Mewing Really Work?

There are still controversies on the effectiveness of mewing amongst scholars. Mewing may be attributed to improved facial aesthetics and jawline definition, but so far, no reliable clinical trials have proven the same. Currently, there is no evidence that mewing can be used as a treatment method in clinical practice.

However, it is necessary to mention that the results of mewing differ for everyone. Its results depend on age, genetics, and facial structures. Teenagers have unhardened bones, and hence, mewing will be more effective.

Mewing Exercises for Jawline

Adopting special exercises into your mewing training can also help you develop a better jawline along with correct tongue posture. Here are a few mewing exercises for the jawline:

1. Chin Tucks

Ensure that you are standing upright and have straightened your shoulders. Gradually push back your chin toward your neck in a gentle manner. Remain in this position for a while before repeating this exercise several times.

2. Jawline Clenches

Keep your lips together and clench your teeth together firmly. Pause for some seconds, then release. Repeat multiple times.

3. Tongue Push-ups 

Apply a light pressure on the tongue, pushing it against the roof of the mouth. This exercise can be done several times a day.

Potential Side-Effects of Mewing

Mewing exercise is usually safe, but one may have temporary side effects when first working on it for a week or so. Some of these mewing side effects are mild painfulness or distress in the jaw, tongue, and facial muscles. In case of prolonged pain or other worrisome problems, see your doctor.

Mewing should, however, not be used as an alternative treatment for your problems with teeth or jaw alignment. Get advice from an expert orthodontist concerning any dental issues that need addressing when considering mewing in your daily routine.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that mewing can be a fascinating test for people seeking to enhance their face’s beauty and for those who want to add more definition to their jaws. Nevertheless, one should be careful, have reasonable goals, and seek medical advice occasionally during such a program. However, remember that individual outcomes may differ; hence, a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and workouts should be applied.

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