Mewing isn't just for cats—Gen Z males have made this bizarre oral heath exercise a TikTok trend
If you're not in the trenches of TikTok—or a member of Gen Z—you may think "mewing" is just the sound that kittens make. However, British orthodontist Dr. John Mew is responsible for this eponymous oral health exercise that has been blowing up on social media recently.
Mewing and "orthotropics"
Mew, an orthodontist whose dental license was recently revoked by the General Dental Council, invented the mewing technique in the 1980s.1 He also came up with his own branch of orthodontics called "orthotropics"—a practice Mew coined that's meant to sharpen the jawline and overall face shape through facial and oral posture and exercises. Through various chewing tools and at-home techniques, mewing is designed to chisel and strengthen the jaw-particularly in adolescents.1
But how, exactly, does one "mew?"
It's a straightforward, repetitive method that can be done discreetly—and at any time. Essentially, mewing involves flattening the tongue on the palate of the mouth, applying upward pressure, before releasing and starting again.1 It can be assisted and accompanied by chewing hard gum and/or jaw exercisers. Someone who is mewing correctly should feel mild pressure across the middle of their face, jaw, and chin.1
However, chewing deliberately hard gum for extended periods of time can cause broken or loose teeth and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues.2
Gen Z males and "looksmaxxing"
Over the past few years, mewing has become just one facet of an ongoing social media trend called "looksmaxxing." Looksmaxxing is a male-centric form of self-improvement that encourages people to subtly change their physical appearance without cosmetic or esthetic procedures. At its core, it's supposed to make people as attractive as possible by enhancing their natural features.3
And, since today's beauty standards celebrate men with strong jawlines, mewing has become a major component of looksmaxxing. Many teenage and young adult male influencers advocate for mewing on their TikTok profiles-so much so that some of them have built an online presence on the practice.
Does mewing have scientific credence?
The short answer is ... not really. Young men online who claim mewing has positive effects on their appearance may just be noticing the natural growth and development of their face from puberty. The truth is that no amount of muscle exertion or habit changes will significantly affect the appearance of one's jaw; once the bones finish growing, they don't magically change.4
Although this is a relatively new trend, mewing has been around for decades, and there is currently no scientific evidence to prove it can noticeably reshape one's face or jawline. Before and after photos on social media may be photoshopped or angled in certain ways to give off the appearance of a more chiseled face shape.4
Although not significantly dangerous, mewing may be feeding into insecurity online by promoting unattainable ideals for young men. If a patient is interested in sharpening or changing their jawline or profile, it's best for them to consult a doctor, dentist, or cosmetic surgeon to change their appearance safely.
References
1. An orthodontist's response to orthotropics & the Mew philosophy. Armbrecht & Wierenga Orthodontics. https://www.awbraces.com/orthodontists-response-to-orthotropics-mew-philosophy.php
2. Kaiser M. August 26, 2024. https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/patient-education/article/55135703/are-your-dental-patients-into-the-hard-gum-trend
3. Brazier Y. What to know about looksmaxxing. Medical News Today. Reviewed May 1, 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/looksmaxxing#what-is-it
4. Lovering N. Everything you need to know about mewing. Medical News Today. January 12, 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mewing#history
