Mewing is a technique that has exploded in popularity online in recent years. It involves training yourself to rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth whenever possible. Proponents claim this can reshape your jawline, give you high cheekbones, and turn back the clock on facial aging. The before and after pictures seem remarkable.
But is there any real science to back this up? As someone who’s followed the mewing community closely and experimented with the technique myself, I think it’s important to take a step back and look at the evidence objectively. In this post, I’ll analyze some of the most popular mewing transformation photos, dive into what research has actually found, highlight potential risks to know, and offer my perspectives as both an enthusiast and skeptical examiner of this fitness fad.
A Critical Analysis of 20 Viral Mewing Transformations
Mewing forums and YouTube videos are filled with jaw-dropping photos of people who’ve supposedly changed the bone structure of their faces through mewing alone. However, in almost every viral case, there are good reasons to be skeptical:
- No verification of identity – Very few transformations provide proof the same person is shown in the before and after. Models can easily be misrepresented.
- Changes in weight/fitness – Most photos fail to control for weight loss, muscle gain or fat redistribution changes that naturally impact facial shape.
- Inconsistent conditions – Images are rarely taken from consistent angles, lighting or poses for valid facial comparisons.
- Suspicious enhancements – Signs of photo filtering and editing are common, making results dubious.
With so many variables unaccounted for, we can’t confidently credit mewing for most transformations being shared. Bone changes should also take years to occur, yet many claimed results seem improbably fast.
What Do Facial Structure Studies Actually Say?
While evidence on mewing itself is limited, we can look to scientific research on related areas to gauge plausibility:
- A 2010 craniofacial study concluded bone structure is almost entirely shaped by genetic and epigenetic factors, not environmental influences. This casts doubt on mewing fundamentally altering one’s genetics.
- However, a 2016 study did find intense chewing exercises increased masseter muscle mass. This suggests the strain from mewing could potentially impact facial tone, though more modestly than bone change claims.
- Orthodontic research shows tongue posture can influence dental alignment over time. But permanent bone alterations seem less supported.
So in summary, while mewing may plausibly provide subtle muscular or dental shifts for some with discipline and years of effort, radical structural change is questionable.
What Are the Risks Associated With Mewing?
As an allegedly “natural” technique, many assume mewing is harmless. But attempting to alter normal oral functions can come with unintended consequences:
- Overexerting facial muscles can cause soreness, pain and tension headaches.
- Excess molar pressure risks damaging or weakening teeth over time.
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder symptoms like jaw stiffness, ringing ears or impaired bite could potentially manifest or worsen.
- Speech impediments may develop if tongue mobility is affected long term.
- Existing alignments issues like overbites risk worsening when unsupervised by orthodontics.
Thankfully, these issues seem relatively rare if force is minimized. But any sudden onset of facial or dental symptoms warrants seeing your physician after beginning mewing. Monitoring for changes through regular dental checkups is also advisable.
My Personal Experience: Cautiously Optimistic
I discovered mewing over a year ago when seeking ways to enhance my smile. The dramatic transformations convinced me to give it a try. I set a reminder to check my tongue posture every night and aimed to mew consistently whenever possible.
While spectacular facial change has eluded me so far, I have noticed some subtle improvements:
- My side profile appears slightly more defined. This could be increased facial muscle tone.
- Nasal breathing at night seems less restricted. Potentially from improved airway support.
- I snore less. Perhaps a mild change in structural alignment.
- My smile lines are less pronounced. This may be from heightened facial engagement.
I can’t say for sure mewing deserves full credit for these small enhancements. Placebo effects can be strong and many factors from diet to genetics are at play. But I feel comfortable continuing my practice based on potential upsides and lack of noticeable downsides so far.
Through this investigation, I’ve learned not to put much stock in most mewing transformation photos shared online. Credible evidence supporting facial bone changes is also quite limited at this time. However, some orthodontic and muscular shifts could plausibly occur for disciplined practitioners.
Conclusion: Stay Realistic Yet Curious
When reviewing mewing objectively, it becomes clear sweeping promises of facial transformation do not currently align with the science. However, some ancillary benefits like strengthened jaw muscles or properly aligned teeth could still emerge with devoted practice.
Mewing’s risk-reward ratio seems favorable for experimentation, though under qualified guidance. But temper visible change expectations, consistently apply safe levels of pressure and timeframe measured in years – not weeks or months.
Facial structure is governed by complex genetic and environmental interactions beyond anyone’s full understanding. Much remains to be discovered. Maintain balanced skepticism when assessing bold claims in this emerging field, but also an openness to reexaminingPositions with future evidence.
