You may have seen a trend online about “mewing,” a non-medical term that describes a do-it-yourself facial restructuring method.
While tongue posture plays a role in facial development, mewing’s promises may be as distorted as some Instagram filters. Let’s dive into the science behind the hype, the potential pitfalls, and why consulting a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is always the safest bet for a smile you’ll truly love.
How Mewing Claims to Work
Mewing, a technique that has gone “viral” online, is the movement 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. Sounds too good to be true, right?
The Reality Check
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.
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.
Can You Fix Your Tongue’s Resting Position?
While DIY methods for facial restructuring, like mewing, are appealing options for those seeking an easy, at-home solution, they don’t fully account for what is happening below the surface. The AAO does not recommend any attempts to move teeth or align jaws without appropriate supervision, as they likely won’t achieve the results you’re aiming for.
The good news is a trained orthodontist can help evaluate your tongue’s resting position and, if necessary, work with other professionals to guide your tongue into a more favorable position. AAO orthodontists understand the structure of your teeth, jaw, and facial bones. They can also correctly evaluate how changing one part of the mouth may impact other parts—for example, how the natural resting position of your tongue may be affecting your speech or causing bite problems.
Before contemplating any DIY treatment, weigh the potential for irreversible and costly damage that may result if not executed correctly. Seeking guidance from an AAO orthodontist in advance can ensure proper bite alignment without negative consequences.
See an AAO Orthodontist for Safe and Effective Jaw Positioning
An orthodontist can safely and effectively correct jaw, teeth and bite issues. After earning a postdoctoral degree specializing in aligning teeth and bites and years of experience in the specialty, AAO orthodontists focus exclusively on the movement of teeth, jawbones, facial bones, and soft tissue, providing specialized care to correct jaw positioning and teeth alignment.
To discuss your facial restructuring options, consult an AAO orthodontist. Find an orthodontist near you at aaoinfo.org/locator.
