What is Mewing? – GOOD SHAPE

TikTok never ceases to surprise and one of the old trends released by the social network has a somewhat curious name: mewing. This technique is not new – it is a tribute to its “inventor”, a 93-year-old British orthodontist.

But let’s start by parts.

WHAT IS MEWING?

Mewing is a technique for correcting the position of the tongue in the mouth developed by British orthodontist john mew. This professional, who is already retired and is over 90 years old, believed that children could have more aligned teeth and better breathing habits, adjusting the posture of the tongue in the mouth instead of undergoing the usual orthodontic treatments (such as surgery).

John Mew’s focus, according to Shape magazine, was exercises that worked the oral and facial posture, however, this same philosophy caused him to lose his registration as an orthodontist in the United Kingdom “for misconduct and for hurting the image of traditional orthodontic practices”, according to an article published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

HOW DOES MEWING WORK?

It is worth noting here that the technique presented on TikTok does not focus on the essence of mewing – the correction of dental arches and breathing problems – but in the aesthetic effect of almost instantaneous refinement of the chin line, perfect for quick videos and photographs.

The idea of ​​the original technique is, with the mouth closed, resting the tongue against the roof of the mouth, instead of “lying” on the bottom. Keep correct posture is the key point because, according to the London School of Facial Orthotropics (founded by Mew), this position makes room for the teeth to grow and align naturally, and also increases the space taken up by the tongue in the mouth.

@azarialavsu

I literally thought the only option left was fillers #jawline #chiseledjawline #jawlinetips #mewing #doublechin

♬ Strawberry – Prod. By Rose

MEWING X CHIN LINE: DOES IT WORK?

If not practiced correctly, mewing has a merely aesthetic and temporary effect. Manipulating the muscles of the face to change their shape is nothing new, but the effect tends to wear off once the person “relaxes” the facial muscles.

Even if you practice mewing regularly, the aesthetic effects on the chin line will still be temporary. On the other hand, what can last longer are the results of practice, which, however, can also dissipate if the technique does not become An habit – after all, everything depends on strengthening the musculature of the region, which can return to the initial “format” with the loss of practice.

On the other hand, it’s also important to note that mewing has risks. The exercise asks the top and bottom teeth to stay in contact all day, which can cause wear or tear. damage the enamel. In addition, it can cause pain in the back of the neck and mouth, in addition to misaligning the bite.