mewing
An internet trend that involves holding the tongue against the roof of the mouth in hopes of changing the jawline or face shape.
By Cal Hewitt, Gen X · Researched from public sources · ·
What it actually means
Mewing is named for orthodontist John Mew and is tied to the broader ideas of orthotropics. It became widely known through social media as a cosmetic jawline trend, but major orthodontic organizations say there is no scientific evidence that it reshapes the jawline. It should not replace professional care for dental, jaw, breathing, or pain concerns.
See the quick definition in the mewing dictionary entry.
Where it came from
John Mew promoted related orthotropic ideas in the 1970s, and the online term grew around Mew and his son Mike's work. The name appears to have emerged through online communities rather than being formally coined by the Mews themselves. It became a major social-media trend around 2019.
No single person is credited, the origin is commonly reported.
Where it's popular
YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and appearance-focused internet communities.
Viral claims often focus on cosmetic changes, which is different from evidence-based orthodontic treatment.
How it caught on
- 1970sJohn Mew promotes orthotropic ideas concerning oral and jaw posture.
- 2019Mewing gains broad mainstream coverage as a YouTube and social-media facial-aesthetics trend.
- 2024The American Association of Orthodontists warns that there is no scientific evidence supporting jawline-reshaping claims.
How to use it
“The video claims mewing will change a jawline, but the evidence does not support that promise.”
Fact-checking a social-media claim.
“He saw mewing discussed in a looksmaxxing forum.”
Describing where the trend often appears.
Common mix-ups
Proper oral posture and mewing are not interchangeable claims. There is no scientific evidence that self-directed mewing permanently reshapes a jawline, and it is not a substitute for orthodontic or medical evaluation.
Do you actually know it?
Know the mewing facts
0/31. What does mewing claim to do?
2. What does the AAO say about jawline-reshaping claims?
3. What should someone do for jaw pain or a bite concern?
Related slang
Questions people ask
What is mewing?
It is a tongue-posture trend promoted online as a way to alter the jawline or face shape.
Does mewing work?
The American Association of Orthodontists says there is no scientific evidence supporting claims that it reshapes the jawline.
Who is mewing named after?
It is named after British orthodontist John Mew and connected to his orthotropic ideas.
Should I use mewing for jaw or dental problems?
No. Seek advice from a qualified dental or medical professional for jaw, bite, pain, or breathing concerns.
The trend’s name comes from an orthodontist, but the social-media word itself appears to have been created by online users rather than formally named by him.
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