Mewing: this new technique for sculpting the jawline and reducing the double chin.

Developed by orthodontist John NEW and his son Mike NEW, mewing was introduced on YouTube in 2018. This technique, aimed at reshaping the jaw, gained popularity on the social media platform Tik Tok.

Mewing involves closing the mouth and positioning the upper and lower teeth against each other. At the same time, the tongue should be kept against the palate.

By maintaining this position, it could enhance nasal breathing, as the chin line is shifted upwards. Meanwhile, the facial contours will become more refined and better defined. Numerous Tik Tok videos have showcased before and after images of implementing the mewing technique.

Mewing occurs in two stages:

1. The first step involves closing the mouth and positioning the tongue against the roof of the mouth. It is crucial to prevent the tongue from touching the front teeth. Initially, this exercise may be tiring, but the tongue muscles should not be relaxed. This exercise should be practised daily and continuously.

2. The second step involves acting as if you're pressing a piece of chewing gum against the roof of your mouth with your tongue. This is sometimes referred to as "tongue-chewing".

Keeping the tongue pressed against the palate for as long as possible forces the lower jaw to contract. Consequently, the jaw muscles would gradually tone up, eventually reshaping the jawline and progressively reducing the appearance of a double chin.

Regarding the firming effect, some individuals have also reported a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. By keeping the tongue on the palate, the upper jaw is pushed forward. By slightly advancing the upper jaw, nasolabial wrinkles would be diminished. By also pushing the mouth forward, the upper lip would appear more plump.

Other purported benefits include resolving sleep apnea and various issues related to breathing and swallowing. Mewing would also improve speech therapy and could even alleviate sinusitis.

It should be noted that, to date, all of this is merely observation and no scientific study confirms a reduction in wrinkles and/or a double chin using this technique. Social media videos may have been edited and are therefore not representative of reality. Moreover, when performed incorrectly, the mewing technique can cause adverse effects such as pain and tension in the chewing muscles.

In individuals suffering from teeth grinding, mewing can exacerbate bruxism. Therefore, the practice of mewing is not recommended.

If you wish to practice mewing in an attempt to strengthen your jaw, it is also recommended to pay attention to your diet: foods that are hard to chew with the back teeth should be prioritised.

• FRIEDLANDER A. H. & al. Mewing: social media's alternative to orthognathic surgery? Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (2019).