Mewing is a facelift technique that involves holding your tongue to the roof of your mouth to change the shape of your jaw. Some proponents claim that meowing can change the shape of your face for a more defined jawline—also helping jaw pain, breathing, or orthodontic problems.
However, mewing has a troubled history. And although many YouTube and TikTok videos praise the practice, there isn’t much evidence that mewing actually works. Experts also warn that people with jaw problems who need surgery or orthodontic work should not try meowing. Your best bet is to see a healthcare provider before trying any do-it-yourself facelift techniques.
Technically, mewing is not a medical term. It was named after the British orthodontist, Dr. John Mew, who popularized the method in the 1970s as part of his alternative orthodontic practice called orthotropy. John Mew’s son, Mike Mew, also an orthodontist, went on to promote the technique and is generally credited with the growing popularity of mewing on YouTube and TikTok.
Orthotropics uses facial and oral posture exercises and certain devices to change the jaw line and shape of the face. Initially, orthotropics were intended for children to influence jaw growth and straighten teeth for a more aesthetic appearance. However, the London School of Facial Orthortopics, an organization founded and supported by John Mew, now promotes this practice for adults as well.
The Mews claim that human jaws are getting smaller due to environmental and lifestyle factors – such as eating soft foods and mouth breathing – not the traditionally accepted genetic link. They feel that smaller jaws can crowd the teeth and change the shape of the face. As a solution, miaging is supposed to help make the jaw bigger and stronger, realign the teeth and create a more square jawline.
So, how really mew? The basics of mewing, according to the London School of Facial Orthotropics, include keeping your mouth closed by:
- The tongue touches the roof of the mouth
- Lips pressed together
- The upper and lower teeth touch or almost touch
You basically have to train yourself to naturally return to this position, which can take time and practice (the London School of Facial Orthotropics claim their treatments can last anywhere from 14 months to 2 years). The essence of the ideology of mewing is that constantly returning to this posture can help straighten the teeth and improve the facial structure.
No reliable research proves that meowing can permanently change your jaw structure. There is also no evidence that they can treat health problems such as sinusitis, breathing problems, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, or sleep apnea. Most of the claims come directly from John and Mike Mew or the Mews-backed London School of Facial Orthotropics. Promising before and after meow pictures posted on the Internet are also unreliable, as photo angle and lighting can be deceiving. At most, you might get a temporary contoured look if you try to meow during a photo session.
However, the Mews may have been onto something in terms of how teeth and tongue position affect jaw development. According to John Mew’s theory, research supports that human jaws are getting smaller. Additionally, oral posture, or the way you position your teeth and tongue, has been shown to affect jaw development in children. A small study of 50 children found even mouth breathers had slight changes in their facial features.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) also agrees that tongue alignment can change your facial structure. How you naturally rest your tongue can also indicate to orthodontists potential oral problems, such as tongue thrust that pushes teeth forward and causes problems with biting, speaking or swallowing.
While it’s unlikely that yawning will successfully change your jaw line or teeth, trying to change your jaw structure without the guidance of your healthcare provider can be dangerous. The AAO cautions that mewing should not be used to try to change your teeth or jaw line. Instead, see a health care provider if you are concerned about jaw structure issues. They can properly assess the complexity of your facial structure and determine a treatment plan.
Facial reconstruction is quite complex and involves changing the jaw, facial bones and soft tissues. So changing your jawline without expert guidance could cause permanent damage to these interlocking parts. However, since there is not enough evidence to prove that meowing works, it is unlikely that the practice will cause any unwanted side effects.
If your jaw shape, pain, or dental problems stem from jaw misalignment (also known as malocclusion), you will likely need to see an orthodontist. Depending on the cause of the jaw misalignment, treatments may include:
- Surgery: Corrective jaw surgery to help realign the upper and lower jaw.
- Tooth repair: Reshaping or covering irregular teeth that cause crowding.
- Braces: Metal bands attached with ties to the teeth to help adjust the alignment of the teeth.
- Tooth extraction: Removal of teeth causing crowding.
If you want to change your facial makeup or jawline for cosmetic reasons, cosmetic surgery and treatments are other possible options. However, these cosmetic procedures can be very expensive and come with their own risks. Some methods that can change your jawline include:
- Face outline: Face sculpting surgery that changes the shape of your chin, cheeks and jawline by removing fat or adding implants.
- Dermal fillers (jaw line treatment): Gel injected into the skin around the jawline to sharpen or adjust the symmetry of the jawline.
- Radio Frequency (RF) Therapy: Energy waves are shot deep into your skin and create heat, which can stimulate collagen production or reduce fat to contour facial skin.
The orthodontic community is very critical of mewing. The General Dental Council stripped John Mew of his dental license for his unconventional practices and criticism of traditional orthodontics. In addition, the British Orthodontic Society suspended Mike Mew and the General Dental Council held a misconduct hearing into some of his treatments.
However, mewing’s most significant source of controversy is its association with the incel (aka involuntarily celibate) movement on the Internet. The incel community is a group of cisgender men known to blame their lack of sexual activity on women and society. In 2014, a YouTube video by Mike Mew about mewing was posted on an incel message board. From there, incel advocates and YouTube channels took the practice viral, promoting the method to improve their looks and sexual encounters.
Mike and John Mew are not directly part of the incel community and the intent of mewing has been distorted by viral mewing videos on the internet. Wellness gurus, beauty bloggers and incels often tout the technique as a beauty treatment for adults, even though Mews created the treatment for young children. However, the Mews have slightly changed their approach with their followers and now treat adult patients.
Mewing is a DIY facelift technique that involves holding your tongue against the roof of your mouth to help reshape your jaw. Despite the internet hype, there needs to be more evidence that mewing works. The practice is also heavily scrutinized and controversial for its opposition to orthodontic standards and its association with the incel movement.
However, some of the key ideas associated with mewing are supported by research. Studies show how children position their tongue and teeth can affect jaw development. How you rest your tongue can also be a good indicator of possible facial and mouth structure problems.
If you try meowing, you are unlikely to get lasting results. But, if you have concerns about your jaw area, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider.
