Does Mewing Actually Work? An Albuquerque Orthodontist Weighs In

Mewing, the viral tongue-posture trend all over TikTok and YouTube, will not reshape an adult's jaw, and there is no solid scientific evidence it delivers the dramatic "before and after" jawlines you see online. The idea behind it isn't entirely baseless, but it's a long way from the claims. At Fanning Orthodontics in Albuquerque, we hear about mewing often, so here's an honest look at what it is, whether it works, and what actually gives you a straighter, healthier smile.

What Is Mewing?

Mewing is a practice of resting your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth, keeping your lips together and breathing through your nose. It's named after John Mew, a British orthodontist who promoted the idea in the 1970s. The trend exploded on social media over the past few years and was reignited recently by a Netflix documentary on the Mew family's unconventional methods. Supporters claim that holding this tongue posture over months or years can redefine your jawline and change your facial structure without braces or surgery.

Does Mewing Actually Work?

For adults, the honest answer is no. There is no credible, peer-reviewed research showing that tongue posture can reshape fully developed facial bones, and the American Association of Orthodontists has publicly cautioned against the claims circulating online. A few reasons the trend falls short:

• Adult bones have stopped growing. Any meaningful change to jaw shape depends on active bone development, which is largely finished by the end of the teenage years.
• Results would require constant effort. To have any theoretical effect, you'd need to hold the posture nearly all day, every day, for a very long time, which isn't realistic.
• The photos can be misleading. Many "before and after" images are influenced by camera angle, lighting, posture, or natural changes during puberty, not a true structural shift.

In short, mewing may slightly change how your face looks in a photo for a moment, but it doesn't move teeth or permanently alter an adult jaw.

Is There Any Truth to the Idea Behind Mewing?

There's a small kernel worth acknowledging. Dentistry does recognize that oral posture, tongue position, swallowing patterns, and especially nasal breathing can influence how a child's jaw and airway develop. Closed-mouth, nose breathing is a genuinely healthy habit. The problem is the leap from "these factors matter during growth" to "you can sculpt an adult jawline by pressing your tongue upward." That jump isn't supported by evidence, and it's exactly where the social media hype goes wrong.

Is Mewing Safe?

Simply resting your tongue on the roof of your mouth is low-risk for most people. The real concerns come from how the trend is often practiced:

• Aggressive "hard mewing" and jaw-training gadgets can strain the jaw joint (TMJ) and cause pain over time.
• Interfering with active treatment. If you're wearing braces or aligners, applying your own pressure can work against your orthodontist's carefully planned tooth movement.
• Delaying real care. The biggest risk is relying on a trend instead of proven treatment, allowing a correctable bite problem to go unaddressed. We've written more about this in our post on the dangers of DIY orthodontic treatments.

What Actually Straightens Teeth and Improves Your Bite?

If your goal is a straighter smile, a balanced bite, or a more confident profile, evidence-based orthodontics is the way to get lasting results. Depending on your needs, that may include:

• Traditional braces for reliable correction of even complex alignment and bite issues.
• Clear aligners for a discreet, removable option that's popular with teens and adults.
• Early orthodontic treatment for children, which is the real, supervised way to guide jaw growth while a child is still developing.

And if you're an adult wondering whether it's worth it, the results speak for themselves. Our article on how effective orthodontics are in adults shows what proper treatment can achieve at any age. Orthodontist Dr. Michael Fanning can evaluate your smile and recommend an approach backed by real science, not a social media trend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can mewing fix crooked teeth or an overbite?

No. Mewing does not apply the controlled, consistent force needed to move teeth or correct a bite. Crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and crossbites are corrected with braces, aligners, and, in some cases, other orthodontic appliances.

Does mewing work for adults?

There is no credible evidence that mewing reshapes adult facial bones. Because adult jaws have finished growing, any visible difference is temporary and cosmetic rather than a true structural change.

Is mewing safe for teenagers?

Resting the tongue gently on the roof of the mouth is generally harmless, but teens should not use jaw-training devices or rely on mewing in place of an orthodontic evaluation. The teenage years are actually an ideal time for real, supervised treatment while the jaw is still developing.

How long would mewing take to show results?

Enthusiasts claim anywhere from several months to a few years, but there's no reliable evidence of lasting structural results on any timeline. Proven orthodontic treatment, by contrast, follows a predictable plan with a clear estimated timeline.

Should I try mewing instead of seeing an orthodontist?

Mewing isn't a substitute for professional care. If you're unhappy with your smile or your bite, a consultation will give you an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan that actually works.

Get Real Answers From an Albuquerque Orthodontist

Curious whether your smile goals are achievable? Skip the guesswork of social media trends and talk to a specialist. Contact Fanning Orthodontics or call (505) 200-0945 to schedule a consultation and find out which proven treatment is right for you.