Mewing (orthotropics)

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Mewing is a form of oral posture training purported to improve jaw and facial structure. [1] It was named after Mike and John Mew, the controversial British orthodontists who created the technique as a part of a practice called "orthotropics". [2] It involves placing one's tongue at the roof of the mouth and applying pressure, with the aim of changing the structure of the jaws. [3] [4] No credible scientific research has ever proven the efficacy of orthotropics. [2]

Contents

Many orthodontists believe that mewing lacks evidence as a viable alternative treatment to orthognathic surgery. [1] [5] Mike Mew was expelled from the British Orthodontic Society, [2] and faces a misconduct hearing for posing harm to child patients who underwent his treatments. [6] [7] While Mike Mew has disparaged traditional orthodontics, [6] his orthotropic treatments for young children cost £12,500 for 36 months, and involve the wearing of headgear, neckgear and expansion appliances in the mouth. [7]

According to maxillofacial surgeon Paul Coceancig, "Mewing and chewing offer no structural change to the jaw, or other health benefits," adding "Will chewing a bone help your dog grow a bigger jaw?". [8]

Since 2019, mewing has received widespread media coverage due to its virality on social media, [9] especially in incel and looksmaxxing subcultures. [2]

Side effects

Mewing could potentially cause TMJ pain, misalignment of the upper and lower jaw or teeth, and may induce tinnitus. [10] [11] [12]

The technique has been used as an internet meme. [13]

Data from Google Trends indicates an increase in global interest and popularity for "Mewing" starting from January 2019. [1] According to a 2024 article in The Independent , some school teachers say that students gesture to their jawline to indicate that they are mewing and do not wish to answer questions. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthognathic surgery</span> Surgery of the jaw

Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery or simply jaw surgery, is surgery designed to correct conditions of the jaw and lower face related to structure, growth, airway issues including sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, malocclusion problems primarily arising from skeletal disharmonies, and other orthodontic dental bite problems that cannot be treated easily with braces, as well as the broad range of facial imbalances, disharmonies, asymmetries, and malproportions where correction may be considered to improve facial aesthetics and self-esteem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malocclusion</span> Medical condition

In orthodontics, a malocclusion is a misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the upper and lower dental arches when they approach each other as the jaws close. The English-language term dates from 1864; Edward Angle (1855–1930), the "father of modern orthodontics", popularised it. The word "malocclusion" derives from occlusion, and refers to the manner in which opposing teeth meet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameloblastic fibroma</span> Medical condition

An ameloblastic fibroma is a fibroma of the ameloblastic tissue, that is, an odontogenic tumor arising from the enamel organ or dental lamina. It may be either truly neoplastic or merely hamartomatous. In neoplastic cases, it may be labeled an ameloblastic fibrosarcoma in accord with the terminological distinction that reserves the word fibroma for benign tumors and assigns the word fibrosarcoma to malignant ones. It is more common in the first and second decades of life, when odontogenesis is ongoing, than in later decades. In 50% of cases an unerupted tooth is involved.

Median palatal cysts are uncommon hard palate fissural cysts that are not odontogenic. These lesions are located behind the incisive canal in the midline of the hard palate. The majority of the time, median palatine cysts are asymptomatic and are discovered by coincidence while a patient is being evaluated for a different ailment.

The lesser palatine arteries are arteries of the head. It is a branch of the descending palatine artery. They supply the palatine tonsils and the soft palate.

Simon Hullihen MD, DDS was a dental surgeon born in Point Township, Pennsylvania. He completed his medical degree and then was inspired to seek a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Regarded as the first oral surgeon in the United States, he helped to develop many modern techniques of maxillofacial surgery and contributed to the establishment of oral and maxillofacial surgery as a surgical specialty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw</span> Medical condition

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is progressive death of the jawbone in a person exposed to a medication known to increase the risk of disease, in the absence of a previous radiation treatment. It may lead to surgical complication in the form of impaired wound healing following oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontal surgery, or endodontic therapy.

Neuralgia-inducing cavitational osteonecrosis (NICO) is a diagnosis whereby a putative jawbone cavitation causes chronic facial neuralgia; this is different from osteonecrosis of the jaw. In NICO the pain is said to result from the degenerating nerve ("neuralagia"). The condition is probably rare, if it does exist.

Prominent inferior labial artery, also known as caliber-persistent labial artery is characterized by the appearance of a pulsating papule in the lower vermilion, a centimeter of two from the oral comissure, formed by an especially tortuous segment of the inferior labial artery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaw abnormality</span> Medical condition

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The sublingual papilla or sublingual fold is a small fold of soft tissue located on each side of the lingual frenulum. The sublingual papilla marks the site of the sublingual gland with its major sublingual duct and its minor sublingual ducts opening upon the papilla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zygoma fracture</span> Form of facial fracture

A zygoma fracture is a form of facial fracture caused by a fracture of the zygomatic bone. Symptoms include flattening of the face, trismus and lateral subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE), also known as surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion(SARME), is a technique in the field of orthodontics which is used to expand the maxillary arch. This technique is a combination of both Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontics. This procedure is primarily done in adult patients whose maxillary sutures are fused and cannot be expanded via other techniques.

Jean Guy Eugene Raymond Delaire was a French orthodontist known for developing the Delair Facemask or reverse headgear. This facemask is used to treat children who have maxillary retrognathism and mandibular prognathism.

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Alveoloplasty is a surgical pre-prosthetic procedure performed to facilitate removal of teeth, and smoothen or reshape the jawbone for prosthetic and cosmetic purposes. In this procedure, the bony edges of the alveolar ridge and its surrounding structures is made smooth, redesigned or recontoured so that a well-fitting, comfortable, and esthetic prosthesis may be fabricated or implants may be surgically inserted. This pre-prosthetic surgery which may include bone grafting prepares the mouth to receive a prosthesis or implants by improving the condition and quality of the supporting structures so they can provide support, better retention and stability to the prosthesis.

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John Mew is a British orthodontist. He is the founder of orthotropics and mewing. Orthotropics is a form of oral posture training that claims to guide facial growth and is not supported by mainstream orthodontists. John Mew's son Michael Mew is also an orthodontist and has also practised and promoted the idea of orthotropics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shan K. Bagby</span>

Shan K. Bagby is a United States Army brigadier general and the 28th Chief of the Army Dental Corps. Bagby also serves as the Commanding General, Regional Health Command-Central. Bagby, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, was the Army’s first African-American dental officer promoted to brigadier general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandibular setback surgery</span>

Mandibular setback surgery is a surgical procedure performed along the occlusal plane to prevent bite opening on the anterior or posterior teeth and retract the lower jaw for both functional and aesthetic effects in patients with mandibular prognathism. It is an orthodontic surgery that is a form of reconstructive plastic surgery. There are three main types of procedures for mandibular setback surgery: Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO), Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy (IVRO) and Extraoral Ramus Osteotomy (EVRO), depending on the magnitude of mandibular setback for each patient. Postoperative care aims to minimise postoperative complications, complications includes bite changes, relapse and nerve injury.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lee, Urie K.; Graves, Lindsay L.; Friedlander, Arthur H. (1 September 2019). "Mewing: Social Media's Alternative to Orthognathic Surgery?". Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 77 (9): 1743–1744. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2019.03.024 . ISSN   0278-2391. PMID   31005620.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Brennan, William (2020-12-28). "How Two British Orthodontists Became Celebrities to Incels" . The New York Times Magazine . Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  3. ↑ Yasharoff, Hannah. "People on TikTok are 'mewing.' Experts weigh in on this controversial beauty hack". USA Today . Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  4. ↑ Millhone, Carley (2023-02-07). "Should You Try Mewing? Here's What the Research Says". Health.com. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  5. ↑ Rekawek, Peter; Wu, Brendan; Hanna, Todd (2021). "Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures, Social Media, and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery: Use of Trends for the Modern Practice". Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 79 (4): 739–740. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2020.10.038 . ISSN   0278-2391. PMID   33259784.
  6. 1 2 Media, P. A. (2022-11-14). "Orthodontist advised treatment with risk of harm to children, tribunal told". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-02-27.
  7. 1 2 Rufo, Yasmin (2023-04-05). "Mike Mew: Dental treatment boy had 'seizure-like episodes'" . Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  8. ↑ "Jaw surgeon debunks 'mewing' beauty trend". Canberra Daily. Newstime Media. 2023-02-25. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  9. ↑ McClinton, Dream (21 March 2019). "Mewing: what is the YouTube craze that claims to reshape your face?". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  10. ↑ Frysh, Paul. "What Is Mewing?". WebMD. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  11. ↑ "Tinnitus And The Temporomandibular Joint - Good Health Centre". 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  12. ↑ Simmons, Richard; Dambra, Christina; Lobarinas, Edward; Stocking, Christine; Salvi, Richard (November 2008). "Head, Neck, and Eye Movements That Modulate Tinnitus". Seminars in Hearing. 29 (4): 361–370. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1095895. ISSN   0734-0451. PMC   2633109 . PMID   19183705.
  13. ↑ Garrity, Katie (2024-02-23). "Teachers Are Explaining Why Tween & Teen Students Are 'Mewing' In Class". Scary Mommy . Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  14. ↑ "What is the 'mewing' trend? Why teachers are hitting back at classroom craze". The Independent. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
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