The Science Behind the Viral ‘Mewing’ Trend
I have had a fair amount of conversations with teenage patients about this ‘mewing’ trend. There is even a Netflix documentary (“Open Wide”) about it! As with any fad or trend, the actual act of ‘mewing’ isn’t anything new, but the implied benefits by TikTok and YouTube influencers (and doctors?) can be misleading.
What exactly is “mewing”?
Mewing is a technique that some people claim can improve the aesthetic of the jawline.
Mewing involves placing the tongue against the roof of the mouth while closing the lips and setting the teeth together.
The supposed benefits of mewing include a well-defined jawline and improved alignment of the chin and nose.
Here is the secret: there is NO clinical evidence that “mewing” can help restructure or grow your jawline.
If anything, according to the American Association of Orthodontics, there can be negative side effects that can be caused by unsupervised mewing techniques such as undesired tooth movement, TMJ complications, and speech issues. Yes, repositioning your jaw forward may look better for photos, but this method shows no clinical evidence of permanent skeletal changes or help with alignment of bites.
But wait! Not all ‘mewing’ is bad! Orofacial myofunctional therapists refer to ‘mewing’ as Lingual Palatal Suction or “LPS”. Benefits, when working with a specialist, include the following:
Improving low tongue posture: low tongue posture can be cause by years of mouthbreathing due to airway concerns or ankyloglossia (tongue tie)
Improving facial muscle pain: when in the correct tongue position, your tongue can act to stabilize the mandible and allow the smaller facial muscle groups to relax
But can an orthodontist actually help restructure a patient’s jawline? YES. As experts in facial growth modification, orthodontics understand that a complex interplay of genetics, bone growth, and muscle development influences facial structure. My teenage patients are usually super excited to learn that we CAN influence the jaw/chin position into a more favorable forward/downward position with a functional orthopedic appliance such as a Herbst appliance.
At High Tide, a Herbst appliance works in conjunction with braces or Invisalign to help correct the jaw discrepancy of having a small lower jaw (which can present as a big overbite!). But there is a small catch: we need to treat at the right time! When placed during a patients most rapid skeletal growth (usually at beginning or during the major growth spurt), a Herbst appliance can be a very predictable method of correcting the bite by addressing the major underlying issue (which is normally a skeletal issue, not just a teeth alignment issue). Cervical pull headgear (think Darla from Finding Nemo) is also effective to address this skeletal discrepancy, but Dr. Trev doesn’t use headgear in his practice due to compliance concerns (most patient aren’t exactly psyched to wear a metal frame outside of their head!). Once the Herbst appliance is placed, the appliance is fixed inside the mouth for 9-12 months. However, the Herbst still allows the patient to chew, speak, and swallow normally!
Below are actual patient at High Tide that Dr. Trev has treated with a Herbst appliance. Look how amazing their results are!
If your kid is caught up in the mewing phase to address their underdeveloped lower jaw, bring them in for a consultation!
Disclaimer: Herbst is not effective in adult patients or patients that have grown past their pubertal growth spurt as a way to address a skeletal imbalance (so get those kids in for a consult facial growth slows down!)