Mewing vs. Myofunctional Therapy: What Actually Helps

When Your Teen Answers With a Finger Along the Jaw

You ask your fourteen-year-old how the chemistry quiz went. Instead of answering, they press a finger to their lips, trace it along their jawline, and the table cracks up. If that move looks familiar, you've met mewing, one of social media's longest-running tongue and jaw trends.

Behind the joke is a real idea. Mewing means holding the tongue pressed against the roof of the mouth, often for hours a day, in hopes of a sharper, more defined jaw. Many teens try it for fun; some take it seriously.

At Austin Sleep & Airway Health, tongue posture is part of every airway exam we do, so we understand the appeal. This guide covers what mewing is, what the evidence says, how it differs from myofunctional therapy, and what to watch for.

What Is Mewing, and Does It Actually Work?

Mewing is named after two British orthodontists, John Mew and his son Mike Mew. The online version: rest the tongue flat against the roof of the mouth, keep the lips closed, breathe through the nose, and wait for the face to change shape.

The short answer: the evidence isn't there. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says there is no current research showing that mewing benefits the jawline or oral health. In a 2024 statement, the AAO's president added that while tongue posture does play a role in oral health, mewing oversimplifies how facial structure develops. More broadly, facial structure is shaped by genetics and bone growth as well as posture.

Why Before and After Photos Can Mislead

Lighting, camera angle, head tilt, and posture all change how a jawline looks in a photo. Teens' faces are also still growing, so a jaw that looks different at sixteen than at thirteen may simply reflect normal development.

Can Mewing Cause Jaw Pain, TMJ Problems, or Crooked Teeth?

It can for some people. The AAO has cautioned that steady, uneven pressure from the tongue could push some teeth forward while others stay put, change how the bite fits together, and contribute to jaw joint (TMJ) pain and speech changes. It adds that fixing those problems later can make orthodontic care more involved.

The distinction that matters is effort. A tongue that rests lightly against the palate is normal and relaxed. Pushing it upward with force for hours, or clenching while holding the position, is the version most likely to leave jaw muscles sore. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research lists jaw clenching among the habits worth easing off when the jaw hurts. Most teens who mew as a joke won't notice anything at all.

Mewing vs. Myofunctional Therapy: What's the Difference?

Mewing gets one thing right: resting posture matters. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) lists a habitual lips-apart resting posture and a low or forward tongue among the common signs of orofacial myofunctional disorders. Myofunctional therapy is the guided retraining of those patterns. After that, the two diverge quickly.

Therapy Starts With Why the Tongue Isn't Resting Up

Mewing assumes you can simply hold your tongue up. Myofunctional therapy starts by asking why it doesn't rest there already. ASHA notes that a closed-mouth resting posture can't be consistently established until any airway interferences are resolved.

That might mean a nose that is often blocked by allergies, or enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which ENT specialists note can make it hard to breathe through the nose. It might mean a tongue tie that limits how far the tongue can lift, which we cover in our guide to tongue ties in older kids and teens. Pressing the tongue up harder doesn't open a stuffy nose.

The Goal Is Function, Not a Jawline

ASHA describes therapy goals such as a clear nasal airway, closed-lip rest, a tongue that seals gently against the palate, a typical swallowing pattern, and accurate speech sounds. Progress shows up in how someone breathes, swallows, speaks, and sleeps, not in a selfie.

A 2015 review in the journal Sleep found myofunctional therapy was associated with improved sleep apnea measures in adults and children, and the authors suggested it could serve as an add-on to other treatments. That's a supporting role, not a stand-alone promise.

It's Guided, Gentle, and Part of a Team

A myofunctional therapist assesses first, then builds a personal plan and adjusts it over time, with exercises practiced at home between visits. Because the root cause might sit in the nose, the tonsils, the bite, or the tongue itself, therapy often works alongside a dentist, ENT, orthodontist, or sleep physician.

Is Mewing Safe for Teens? What Parents Can Do Now

Start with curiosity rather than alarm. Ask your teen whether they're mewing as a joke or practicing it seriously.

Then notice and write things down over a few weeks, because patterns tell us more than one rough day:

• Jaw: soreness or tired jaw muscles in the morning, headaches near the temples, or clicking that comes with pain.
• Teeth: a bite that feels different, new gaps, or teeth that feel tender.
• Breathing: lips apart while reading or gaming, mouth breathing, or snoring (a short phone video helps).
• Nose: constant stuffiness or seasonal allergy flares.
• Tongue: whether resting the tongue up feels natural or like a strain.
• Energy: trouble waking up or staying alert in morning classes.

If your teen wears braces or a retainer, mention mewing to the orthodontist too. The trend shares a blind spot with mouth taping for sleep: both try to hold a posture in place without asking why it isn't happening on its own.

When Tongue Posture Is Worth an Evaluation

A closer look makes sense when a few signs show up together. Consider an evaluation if your teen breathes through their mouth most of the day or night, snores, sleeps restlessly, or seems tired despite enough sleep. It's also worth a look if jaw pain or headaches started or got worse after mewing, if their bite seems to be changing, or if the tongue can't rest comfortably up.

Tricky speech sounds, messy swallowing, or a tongue that pushes forward between the teeth are also good reasons to ask. Our educational sleep screening for teens ages 13 to 18 can help you organize what you're seeing. It isn't a diagnosis, and only a physician can diagnose sleep apnea through a sleep study.

How Austin Sleep & Airway Health Helps With Tongue Posture

Dr. Culotta starts with how the mouth and airway function. Her airway-focused exam looks at tongue mobility and resting posture, oral ties, palate width, bite, jaw joints, tonsil size, nasal versus mouth breathing, and signs of clenching or grinding, along with a detailed sleep and health history. When helpful, our in-house 3D CBCT airway imaging shows the nasal passages, tonsils, adenoids, and jaw position in a low-radiation scan of about 45 seconds. It's an awake, upright snapshot, not a sleep study.

Dr. Culotta is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine with over a decade of experience as a family dentist, lactation counselor, and myofunctional specialist. Independent myofunctional therapists work on-site in our Myofunctional Collaborative Space, or patients can work with an outside therapist. When a tongue tie release is appropriate, it's typically paired with therapy before and after.

When the nose, tonsils, or sleep need their own look, we coordinate with ENTs, sleep physicians, orthodontists, and pediatricians. As Dr. Culotta puts it, "Positive change is possible at any age. Awareness is the first step."

Frequently Asked Questions

Does mewing actually work to change your jawline?

There is no scientific evidence that mewing reshapes the jawline, and the AAO advises against trying to move teeth or jaws without professional supervision. Facial shape depends largely on genetics and growth.

Is mewing bad for your teeth?

Resting the tongue lightly against the palate is normal, but the AAO cautions that constant, uneven tongue pressure could shift teeth or change how the bite fits together. If your teeth or bite feel different, let your dentist know.

Can mewing cause TMJ pain?

For some people it can, especially when mewing involves pressing hard or clenching, and the AAO lists jaw joint pain among its possible side effects. Painless clicking is common, but clicking that comes with pain is worth a dental visit.

Is myofunctional therapy the same as mewing?

No, myofunctional therapy is a guided program that first looks at why the tongue, lips, and breathing work the way they do, while mewing is one self-taught posture. It also addresses swallowing and lip seal.

Are mewing before and after photos real?

Many mewing before and after photos are unreliable, because lighting, camera angle, head posture, and normal teenage growth can all change how a jawline looks. The AAO notes there is no research showing mewing benefits the jawline.

Where can my teen get a myofunctional therapy evaluation in Austin?

You can schedule an airway-focused evaluation at Austin Sleep & Airway Health in Austin's Mueller neighborhood, where independent myofunctional therapists work on-site. We're at 1701 Simond Ave, Suite 107A, and you can call (512) 900-9715 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Trade the Trend for a Real Answer

If mewing has you or your teen wondering about tongue posture, jaw comfort, or breathing, there's a calmer way to find out what's going on. See how on-site therapists and our practice work together in the Myofunctional Collaborative Space, then bring your observations to a consultation so we can look at the whole picture with you.