2. Does Mewing Work?
Skepticism persists about mewing's effectiveness in permanently altering jaw structure or treating medical issues like sinus complications, TMJ disorders, or sleep apnea. Mewing cannot universally substitute for surgery or address extensive orthodontic problems, especially after the jaw matures. Despite these uncertainties, some research supports the fundamental principles of mewing, hinting at a connection between oral posture and jaw development.
Environment Does Have an Effect
The critical question here revolves around the extent to which inherited genetic factors contribute to these issues versus the impact of environmental factors. Research suggests that environmental influences may reduce human jaw sizes over generations, with specific oral postures, including how the tongue and teeth are positioned, playing a significant role in jaw development in children. For example, mouth breathing in children has been linked to subtle facial changes. Furthermore, the American Association of Orthodontists acknowledges the impact of tongue alignment on facial structure, suggesting that resting tongue posture could reveal potential orthodontic challenges. Issues such as tongue thrusting can influence the bite, speech, and swallowing functions, highlighting the importance of considering genetic and environmental factors in addressing orthodontic health.
How to Mew?
Mewing involves positioning your tongue against the roof of your mouth to realign your teeth and shape your jawline gradually. To mew correctly, relax your tongue to make complete contact with the roof of your mouth, including the back part. Initially, this may feel unusual, as many people are used to having their tongues rest away from the roof. However, with consistent practice, your muscles will adapt, making this posture more natural and maintaining this posture at all times, even while drinking is recommended.
The Base Technique
According to the London School of Facial Orthotropics, the basic steps for mewing involve keeping your mouth closed, ensuring your tongue is in complete contact with the roof of your mouth, your lips are sealed, and your teeth either lightly touch or are close to touching. Training yourself to assume this position demands patience and persistence automatically. The school suggests noticeable changes in teeth alignment and facial structure can take several months to 2 years.
While mewing offers a non-invasive way to alter facial aesthetics, managing expectations is crucial. Significant maxillofacial irregularities often necessitate surgical or orthodontic treatments, so mewing should not be considered a quick fix or comprehensive solution for these issues.
Problem with Most Social Media Videos
Through our studies and practice of various techniques overlapping with mewing, we've identified a significant issue with many social media videos on mewing. While they may create attractive content, they often need more practical value. The effectiveness of mewing largely depends on closing the teeth so they are pressed together, then covering as much of the hard palate (the firmer part of the roof of your mouth) as possible with the tongue. Generating a vacuum by breathing through the nose and swallowing saliva becomes effective only under these conditions.
