Mewing: Does the Viral Jawline Trick Really Work?

Mewing is one of the best known looksmaxxing trends. You have probably seen videos of people pressing their tongue to the roof of their mouth and showing a sharper jaw. The trend has been around for years, but it keeps coming back on TikTok and online. Here is a calm look at what it is, what fans say, and what the experts say.

What is mewing?

Mewing means resting your whole tongue flat against the roof of your mouth, with your lips closed and your teeth lightly touching or close together. The name comes from John Mew, a British orthodontist who built ideas about tongue posture in the 1970s. He later lost his dental license. His son, Mike Mew, made the ideas popular online. Fans say that if you hold this tongue position all day, over years your face will grow forward and your jaw will look sharper.

What supporters say online

There is a lot of support for mewing online. Many fans post before and after photos taken months or years apart. One popular example shows a man's photos from age 26 to 30. He says he has mewed for four years and feels his face looks more "forward grown." Common claims include:

A sharper looking jaw and less fullness under the chin
Better posture, because mewing pairs with holding the head up
Breathing through the nose more often
Feeling more aware of how they hold their face

Some people also say it is free and easy, so there is little to lose by trying.

What experts say

Orthodontic groups do not agree with the big claims. The American Association of Orthodontists says there is no current research showing mewing improves your jawline. The British Orthodontic Society said in 2025 that there is no scientific evidence that you can change the shape of your face with tongue position. Cleveland Clinic experts say mewing "isn't specific or strong enough" to change adult bone, and that in some cases it can add jaw tension or move teeth the wrong way, mostly in kids and teens.

Positives

Good habit parts. Breathing through your nose and keeping your mouth closed at rest are generally healthy habits.
Posture help. Many mewers also work on standing tall and keeping their head back over their shoulders. That alone can make a jaw look sharper in photos.
Free. It costs nothing.

Negatives

No proof it changes bone in adults. Photo changes are often due to weight loss, lighting, camera angle, posture, or aging.
Possible jaw strain. Pushing hard with your tongue all day can tire jaw muscles or add to TMJ pain.
Teeth can shift. Constant pressure may move teeth in ways you do not want, especially in young people.
It can lead to riskier ideas. In some online groups, mewing is the doorway to extreme practices like "bone smashing," which can cause real harm. The example above even mentions tapping cheekbones. Please do not do that.

If you want a sharper jawline

The things that most change how a jaw looks are body fat, posture, facial hair shape, and camera angle. Holding your head tall with your chin slightly forward in photos makes a big difference.

Bottom line

Resting your tongue on the roof of your mouth and breathing through your nose is fine for most people. But do not expect mewing to reshape your face as an adult, and stop if it causes jaw pain. Focus on posture, health, and good photos. If you want to see which angle shows your jaw best, The Face They See lets people of the opposite gender rank your photos for free.

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