Son of controversial “orthotropics” inventor John Mew struck down for malpractice by General Dental Council

Mike Mew, son of the controversial orthodontist and "orthotropics" creator John Mew, has been struck off for malpractice due to his treatment of a six-year-old patient that caused seizure-like episodes.¹

According to the General Dental Council (GDC), Mike Mew was erased from the dentists' register last month for "public protection" and "undermining" confidence in the profession.

What is "mewing" and why is it dangerous?

The practice of what has now been dubbed as "mewing" by social media users, particularly those on TikTok, involves flattening the tongue on the palate of the mouth, applying upward pressure, releasing, and repeating this motion again and again. Millions of young people have implemented this technique in an effort to sharpen their jawline and give themselves better definition in their chins.3 In fact, "mewing" has become so popular that it's been searched for over 4.7 billion times on TikTok.¹

Both John and Mike Mew believe many dental problems can be fixed through continuous application of these muscle exercises and physiotherapy. However, evidence suggests the practice of "orthotropics" not only doesn't work, but may cause broken or loose teeth and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues.² These false claims have not only proliferated online through video resharing and posts of social media users lauding this unfounded technique, but also through Mike Mew's YouTube channel.

Spreading misinformation

A disciplinary panel found the advice mentioned in his YouTube videos to be "misleading" and "inappropriate." In one video, Mew claimed that creating enough "tongue space" can influence facial growth and result in an "expansion of the brain."¹

Legal action was taken after what happened to a young boy Mew treated in 2018. This boy, known as "Patient B," was instructed to wear head and neck gear, including an expansion device, for at least eight hours a day. The BBC reported that the patient experienced "long and seizure-like" episodes after prolonged use of these devices.¹

In response to the GDC's decision, Mike Mew says that the council "has offered as much scientific evidence for their approach as the Pope did in convicting Galileo for saying that the Earth revolved around the Sun. The naked truth is that the GDC is more concerned about protecting the lucrative orthodontic industry than protecting children from harm."¹

On Mew's treatment and techniques, a GDC spokesman said the following: "In this case, the independent panel from the Dental Professionals Hearings Service heard from a number of witnesses, including expert witnesses, and found that Mr. Mew had used approaches that were not sufficiently supported by scientific evidence and liable to cause harm, and made misleading statements about the need for treatment that undermined confidence in the dental professions."¹

References

1. Koronka P. Dentist behind viral 'mewing' trend is struck off for malpractice. The Times. November 8, 2024. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/dentist-mike-mewing-trend-erased-dentristry-register-w3c3q3wrs?utm_source=chatgpt.com&region=global

2. Butkovic S. Mewing isn't just for cats-Gen Z males have made this bizarre oral health exercise a TikTok trend. DentistryIQ. August 29, 2024. https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/patient-education/article/55136618/mewing-isnt-just-for-catsgen-z-males-have-made-this-bizarre-oral-heath-exercise-a-tiktok-trend