An in-depth analysis of a controversial facial technique
The mewing has burst into the world of beauty and health, and it is not for nothing, since as a facial technique it promises more than surprising results: a more defined jawline, better breathing and a deeper sleep. And all of this, simply by performing a simple exercise at home that does not require any type of equipment. All you need to do is place your tongue on the upper palate repeatedly to stimulate bone and muscle growth, resulting in a more harmonious and youthful face.
Sounds good, doesn't it? Too good, you might think.
Despite its popularity in the world of youth trends and the fervour it generates on social networks and online forums, the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of the mewing is rather limited. While it is true that correct tongue position may play a role in facial development during childhood, its impact on adult bone structure is unclear.
Let's take a closer look,
What does mewing 'sell'?
Mewing is based on the idea that incorrect positioning of the tongue, which we usually rest in the lower part of the mouth, can lead to a number of facial problems, such as a receding jaw, poor nasal breathing and improper head posture.
Proponents claim that by placing the tongue on the upper palate in a consistent manner, it is possible:
Stimulate bone growth, improve posture and optimise sleep. Good tongue positioning during sleep may promote proper nasal breathing, which in turn is associated with deeper and more restful sleep.
While tongue position can and does influence some aspects of facial development, such as the position of the teeth, the scientific evidence to support the claims of 'mewing' is sparse and inconclusive.
Although some studies do suggest that tongue position can improve nasal breathing, and that this could have a positive impact on general health, these are small studies and have not been carried out with long-term follow-up, so more scientific literature is needed to actually confirm these claims. But changing the position of the tongue is a habit that is worked on and corrected at the speech therapist with many hours of exercises and follow-up by a professional, it is not something that we can simply change ourselves after reading an article on the Internet. In fact, it is actually quite difficult to achieve in the long term.
In terms of jaw remodelling in aesthetic terms, there is also no scientific evidence that mewing can have a significant effect on bone structure in adults.
And how can we explain the changes observed in the before and after photos that populate the social networks? Well, like all of them, with more or less obvious manipulations, from weight loss, the use of make-up, the difference in the angle of the photographs or direct retouching with computer programmes, to a mixture of all of them.
Risks associated with mewing
OK, you may think that mewing may not have much scientific backing behind it but that "you can't lose anything by trying it if it works". In reality this is not quite the case, as there are some potential risks associated with incorrect practice such as:
Jaw painExcessive pressure on the jaw by placing the tongue in an unusual position can cause pain and muscle tension.
TMJ problemsMewing may aggravate or trigger temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, such as clicking, locking or joint pain.
Changes in dental occlusionIncorrect tongue position over a prolonged period of time may affect the position of the teeth and alter dental occlusion.
Final recommendation
Before considering mewing as an option, whatever you are looking for, it is best to consult a specialist first, lest you manage to worsen a situation that in reality is easily solvable and have to resort to TMJ treatments, whose discomfort I can assure you is very painful and whose solutions (physiotherapy, botox...etc) are also very painful.
