Does mewing really work? What science says about tongue position

Quick answer: No, there is no good scientific evidence that mewing (pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth) changes your jawline or the position of your teeth. In adults the bone is fully grown anyway. For a real change in the position of teeth or jaw, a professional assessment by an orthodontist is needed; mewing is no substitute for that.

Mewing pops up everywhere on TikTok and YouTube: press your tongue against the roof of your mouth, and you would supposedly get a sharper jawline. It sounds appealing and it costs nothing. Yet the honest answer to the question "does mewing really work?" is no: there is no serious research showing that tongue position permanently changes your jaw or tooth alignment, certainly not once you are an adult.

That does not mean tongue position and mouth breathing are unimportant. In growing children they can indeed play a role in how the teeth develop. Below you can read the difference between the online hype around mewing and the guided approach that orthodontists and speech therapists know as myofunctional therapy. We write this from the daily practice of our orthodontic clinic in the centre of Amsterdam, on the Museumplein. And if you have tried it yourself: that is not strange at all, it is logical that you are curious about what makes your face more attractive.

Mewing is a form of "posture training" for your mouth. You place your whole tongue flat against the roof of your mouth (not just the tip), keep your lips closed and breathe through your nose. The idea: by applying light pressure day in, day out, your jaw would grow wider and forward and your face would become "tighter".

The term comes from John Mew, a British orthodontist who from the 1970s promoted a method he called orthotropics, an alternative to mainstream orthodontics. His son Mike Mew, also an orthodontist, made the technique world-famous via social media. The name "mewing" refers to their surname.

Important to know: both originators have been disciplined by the British dental regulator (the General Dental Council). John Mew lost his registration, and Mike Mew was struck off the dental register after a disciplinary case in which there were concerns about harm to young patients. That says something about how the professional world views the method.

The short answer remains: there is no credible scientific evidence that orthotropics or mewing works. Almost all the "evidence" going around is anecdotal: individual stories and before-and-after photos, no solid research. A few things to keep in the back of your mind:

• In adults your bone is fully grown. Your jaw is not clay you knead with your tongue. Once growth is complete, light tongue pressure does not change the bone structure.
• Before-and-after photos mislead. Differences in posture, facial expression, lighting, camera angle and a bit of lost fat almost always explain the "result", not a reshaped jaw.
• There is a downside. According to professionals, wrong, prolonged forces on your teeth can actually do harm: think of tooth or bite problems and jaw joint complaints.
• The professional world is clear. Most orthodontists do not see mewing as a serious alternative to a real treatment.

In short: if TikTok promises you a new jawline through tongue training alone, you may safely be sceptical about that.

The fact that mewing does not work as a miracle cure does not mean your mouth and tongue do not matter. In children and young people, while the teeth and jaws are still growing, certain habits can influence dental development. Professionals together call these habits orofacial myofunctional disorders. Examples:

• Tongue thrusting (pushing the tongue against or between the teeth when swallowing).
• Mouth breathing instead of breathing through the nose.
• Thumb or finger sucking or prolonged use of a dummy.
• Biting nails, lip or cheek as a fixed habit.

These habits are linked in the literature to misalignment of teeth (malocclusion), such as an open bite or a crossbite. That is why dental professionals advise addressing such habits preferably before the permanent front teeth come through, roughly around the age of six.

The big difference with mewing: this is not about shaping your own jaw via an internet video, but about recognising and guiding a functional problem through a professional.

What is myofunctional therapy?

Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a guided exercise therapy, often given by a specialised speech therapist and in coordination with the orthodontist. The goal is functional: a better resting position of the tongue, learning to breathe through the nose and correcting the swallowing pattern. Sometimes it is used alongside an orthodontic treatment.

Be honest here too: the evidence for myofunctional therapy is encouraging, but still limited. A recent scientific review concluded that the quality of the research is low and that more well-designed studies are needed. The therapy seems worthwhile (especially to prevent an open bite returning after treatment), but it is not a firmly proven miracle cure. The big difference with mewing remains that OMT is a professionally assessed, guided approach, not a self-chosen TikTok trend.

The difference at a glance:

Want to know whether your teeth or jaw can really be moved? That starts with a professional assessment. An orthodontist looks at your teeth, gums and bite, makes a 3D scan and X-rays if needed, and determines which treatment suits you. For really straightening teeth, those are proven methods such as a fixed brace or aligners from Invisalign, not a tongue exercise.

Our practice is in the centre of Amsterdam, within walking distance of the Museumplein. We treat both children and adults and always look carefully before we advise anything. What you can expect from us:

• An honest assessment. We simply tell you whether a trend like mewing achieves anything for your situation, and what can actually help.
• A real screening. Oral examination, and where needed a 3D scan and X-rays, so we have a good picture of your teeth, jaw and bite.
• Attention to function and position. If tongue position or mouth breathing plays a role, we coordinate with a speech therapist about myofunctional therapy.
• Easy to reach. Easily accessible by tram, bike or car from all over Amsterdam and the surrounding area.

Have you tried mewing and wonder whether more is possible? Plan a no-obligation consultation at our practice in central Amsterdam.

Does mewing really work to change your jawline?

No. There is no good scientific evidence that pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth changes your jawline or the position of your teeth. In adults the jawbone is moreover fully grown, so light tongue pressure does not reshape it. The "results" on social media usually come from posture, lighting and camera angle.

Is mewing dangerous?

For most people, holding your tongue against the roof of your mouth is no disaster. But wrong, prolonged forces on your teeth can, according to professionals, cause tooth or bite problems and jaw joint complaints. The biggest risk is that you do not have a real problem assessed because you think mewing solves it.

What is the difference between mewing and myofunctional therapy?

Mewing is a self-chosen trend without guidance or examination. Myofunctional therapy is a guided exercise therapy, often by a speech therapist, aimed at tongue rest, nasal breathing and swallowing, usually in children and sometimes alongside a brace. The evidence for it is encouraging, but still limited.

Can tongue position influence the teeth in children?

Yes, it can. Habits such as tongue thrusting, mouth breathing and thumb sucking are linked to misalignment such as an open or crossbite. That is why it is wise to have such habits assessed, preferably before the permanent front teeth come through (around the age of six).

I really want straighter teeth or jaw. What should I do?

Start with a professional assessment. An orthodontist examines your teeth, jaw and bite and determines whether and how your teeth can be moved safely, for example with a fixed brace or aligners. That is the proven route, not a tongue exercise from the internet.

Want to know more or request a no-obligation consultation? Contact our practice in Amsterdam.