The internet is a treasure trove of trends, some as fleeting as a viral dance challenge, others with the potential to reshape your daily routine. Enter mewing: a technique that’s been buzzing for its claims of enhancing facial aesthetics without invasive procedures.
At its core, mewing focuses on the position of your tongue and promises a more defined jawline, better posture, and improved breathing. But what lies behind these bold claims? Is it science-backed wisdom or a fleeting social media phenomenon? We’ll dive into the basics, unravel the science, and explore mewing’s rise to fame.
Table of Contents
Understanding Mewing: The Basics
Mewing is a technique formulated by Dr. John Mew, an orthodontist who emphasized the importance of oral posture. It is based on the simple concept of maintaining correct tongue placement to promote better dental alignment, improve facial aesthetics, and enhance overall oral health. Most people use it to improve the appearance of face fat and double chins.
At the heart of mewing lies proper tongue posture, where your tongue rests gently against the roof of your mouth. This placement encourages better breathing patterns and may contribute to a more defined jawline and improved facial structure over time.
Beyond aesthetics, mewing also emphasizes closed-mouth breathing and the positioning of the lips and teeth.
Patience and dedication are key, as changes are gradual and require a sustained effort over time.
How to Perfect Your Mewing Technique
To perfect your technique, it’s crucial to pay attention to a few fundamental elements.
- Step 1: Rest your entire tongue on the roof of your mouth comfortably. Don’t strain, this gets easier over time.
- Step 2: Maintain proper posture by sitting or standing with a straight back and aligned neck.
- Step 3: Practice regular nasal breathing to support tongue and jaw alignment.
- Step 4: Be consistent, gradually increasing practice time each day.
Let’s go into more detail.
Position of Your Tongue
The core of effective mewing lies in resting your entire tongue on the roof of your mouth. Not just the tip—ensure the middle and back of your tongue are also comfortably engaged. Imagine your tongue creating a seal across the palate, exerting gentle upward pressure.
Many people report creating the “ng” sound and leaving their tongue at the top of their mouth to be an effective way to figure out this tongue posture. The tip of your tongue should rest comfortably and gently behind your teeth.
Check: If your entire tongue isn’t engaged, it may apply uneven pressure, potentially hindering desired outcomes. Inefficient practice won’t yield the benefits you want.
Posture
Having good posture is as important as tongue placement. Sit or stand with your back straight and shoulders relaxed. Keep your neck aligned with your spine so your gaze stays horizontal. This posture supports full tongue placement, preventing neck tension that can interfere with results of mewing (not to mention become exhausting!)
Check: Slouching or bad neck alignment can result in neck strain and disrupt the tongue’s contact with the palate, reducing mewing’s potential benefits.
Breathing
Regular, calm nasal breathing supports correct posture. Breathing through your nose while maintaining good tongue posture aligns with your mouth’s natural resting state. This minimizes unnecessary jaw and tongue movement.
Check: Mouth breathing or irregular patterns can disrupt tongue and jaw posture, slow progress, and may cause tension or discomfort over time.
Consistency
Integrate mewing into your daily routine for gradual and sustainable improvements. Start with a few minutes each day, gradually increasing the time as it becomes a habit.
Regularly checking in with your technique can help. Use a mirror to verify your tongue’s position or create reminders throughout your day to perform a quick posture and breathing check. As you continue, gently self-correct any deviations to maximize the benefits of mewing.
The Science: Does Mewing Work?
When trying to figure out if mewing really works, it’s crucial to separate personal stories from scientific facts.
This practice revolves around keeping your tongue in the right spot, with some people believing this can change your jawline and facial look over time. The idea is that consistent tongue posture might lead to small changes because of the constant pressure it applies.
Many who have attempted this have found that their jawline is much more structured and the appearance of their “double chin” has lessened.
However, there isn’t much scientific proof behind these claims yet. Experts say that while good tongue posture can help with breathing and speaking, it probably won’t cause big changes to your facial structure. If it does, it may take years of applying this practice daily before seeing results.
Some doctors view mewing as something that could help alongside other orthodontic treatments, rather than as a miracle fix. Factors like your bone structure and age are also important in determining if mewing will work.
Remember, a lot of the support for this comes from personal stories and experiences.
While these can be encouraging, they don’t have the strict scientific support needed to confirm health or beauty practices. Until more detailed studies are done, mewing remains an interesting idea surrounded by optimism and doubt.
Is Mewing Real? Tongue Posture in Pop Culture
Social media grew the concept of mewing from an obscure orthodontic concept to a viral sensation. TikTok and Instagram in particular have played a pivotal role.
Enthusiastic advocates and influencers have shared before-and-after photos, often claiming striking transformations, which have captured the imagination of millions.
On YouTube, for instance, mewing-related content garners millions of views, featuring tutorials, personal testimonials, and expert opinions. TikTok’s videos amplify this trend, allowing users to easily share tips and showcase their progress.
Among students, the term has taken on a new meaning beyond its original technique.
In schools, students sometimes use “mewing” to describe someone trying to look good, pointing to the aesthetic side of the practice. It represents an effort to ‘look their best,’ and has become a common part of everyday talk, often used jokingly when getting ready for a school event or photo.
There’s also a funny side to the term used in classrooms. When a teacher calls on a student unexpectedly, some joke that they can’t respond right away because their tongue is busy in the mewing position.
Common Misconceptions
One of the most common misconceptions is that it can entirely reshape your face overnight. In reality, mewing is a gradual process, and any changes in facial structure take time and consistent effort.
Let’s go through a few more misconceptions that help create realistic expectations about whether mewing really works:
While it may support natural oral posture and potentially assist in some facial muscle strengthening over time, it is not a replacement for expert medical or dental intervention. It’s crucial to recognize that individual results can vary widely based on numerous personal factors.
Some mistakenly think that increased pressure from the tongue will accelerate results. This is not true. It is not only ineffective but could also lead to discomfort or strain. Instead, proper technique involves gentle and consistent tongue placement.
The Role of Consistency
Think of mewing as a fitness regimen for your facial muscles—it requires regular and sustained effort to see change.
The key is to incorporate it seamlessly into your daily routine, ensuring that the practice becomes second nature over time.
Start by setting a dedicated time each day to focus on your technique. Whether it’s during your morning commute, while watching TV, or even as you work, find moments to reinforce your tongue and oral postures. Frequent checks and slight adjustments, such as during every phone or TV break, can help maintain progress.
Track your journey with milestones, if you’re particularly dedicated, with images. This approach boosts motivation and helps in setting more achievable goals moving forward.
Remember, this change is part of a broader lifestyle shift, which includes posture correction and mindful breathing. By consistently integrating these elements, you’re setting yourself up for success in achieving the transformative benefits of mewing.
