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### **The Importance of Mewing: Why It’s Foundational for Facial Aesthetics** If you have had any internet presence over the last year or so, you probably have heard of this technique by now. This is not just some internet trend, however, as mewing (a technique named after Dr. Mike Mew) originates in myofunctional therapy and orthodontics and is probably the most crucial step towards proper facial development. At its core, mewing is about maintaining proper tongue posture, swallowing mechanics, and chewing habits. If these three areas are taken care of, you can expect to have significantly improved facial aesthetics. The concept of ****functional matrix theory, developed by Melvin Moss, suggests that bones grow in response to the functional demands placed on them by muscles and soft tissue. This is closely related to Wolff’s Law, which states that bone adapts to mechanical stresses by growing stronger where force is applied. Mewing capitalizes on these principles by promoting the correct tongue posture that encourages forward and upward growth of the maxilla, the key to all facial development. ### **1. Why is mewing foundational for facial aesthetics?** **Maxillary Expansion and Forward Growth**: The maxilla is the foundation to facial aesthetics, as you will continue to discover throughout this course. Correct tongue posture exerts continuous upward pressure on the maxilla, encouraging forward development. This process of forward maxillary development is known as counter-clockwise rotation (CCW), and is the primary movement pattern that improves facial aesthetics. Proper CCW from mewing leads to a well-defined jawline and high cheekbones, both attractive features. The opposite, where the maxilla fails to develop properly (due to mouth breathing, poor oral posture etc.), known as clockwise rotation (CW) is where there is a downward and backward movement of the maxilla and thus mandible, leading to facial elongation and a recessed chin, both unattractive. **Facial Symmetry and Harmony - The Sphenoid**: The sphenoid is another critical part of optimal facial development and is highly responsible for your facial symmetry as well. It maintains the positioning of surrounding bone structures, including the zygomatic arches and the orbital bones and houses key foramina through which the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) passes. This nerve controls sensation and motor function in the face, and so if the sphenoid is misaligned, it can lead to asymmetrical tension in these nerve pathways, contributing to facial asymmetry due to its altering of muscle development. More generally speaking, though, it serves as an anchor for lots of different structures in the face, so we must bring it into alignment for proper facial aesthetics. This can be done via correct tongue posture. Because the maxilla is connected to the sphenoid bone via the pterygomaxillary suture, as the maxilla expands and develops under correct tongue posture, the sphenoid experiences forward forces aswell. Similarly, mewing encourages proper myofunctional habits, such as engaging the tongue and avoiding overuse of the lips and cheeks (more on this momentarily). This helps to develop symmetry in the facial musculature and bone structure, leading to improved aesthetics. **Airway and Breathing Efficiency**: Tongue posture is closely related to developing and maintaining a wide, stable airway. In myofunctional therapy, the tongue acts as a natural expander of the palate and airway, promoting nasal breathing, which is critical for proper craniofacial growth. Nasal breathing, in turn, enhances facial structure by improving forward maxillary growth, creating a sort of self-fulfilling cycle. **Muscle Tone and Bone Remodeling**: The muscles of the face, particularly the masseter and buccinator muscles, play an essential role in defining jawline structure. Consistent correct engagement of these muscles, paired with correct tongue posture, stimulates the underlying bones to remodel and become more defined. This increases overall facial harmony. ### **2. How to Practically Implement Mewing** **Proper Positioning**: Firstly, the tongue should rest entirely against the palate (roof of the mouth) when at rest. This includes the posterior (back) third of the tongue, which is essential for maintaining upward pressure on the maxilla. The front of the tongue should rest behind the upper incisors without touching them. Constant upward pressure from the tongue helps to stimulate bone remodeling and forward growth of the maxilla, which, as mentioned, is the crucial bone for enhanced facial structure. **Creating Suction:** For mewing to be even more successful, we must utilize the mechanics of suction to ensure that our tongue stays in the correct position. This is done by swallowing. As you swallow, feel the tongue move upward and backward, creating a tight seal with the roof of your mouth. You can swallow multiple times (obviously with sealed lips) to strengthen this suction as well. This motion pulls the tongue upward and naturally adheres to proper tongue posture. Over time, this will build muscle memory and help you naturally maintain the suction posture without having to think about it. You will also naturally strengthen the back third of the tongue, which many find difficult to engage, specifically improving the palatoglossus and styloglossus muscles. The improvements in these muscles helps maintain the forward position of the maxilla, reinforcing the upward and forward forces needed for optimal facial aesthetics. ### **Important Caveat: Just Mewing Is Not Enough** Mewing is crucial for proper facial development. Without it, your maxilla would be underdeveloped, your mandible recessed, and your airways constricted leading to mouth breathing and a whole host of other issues. However, it is not the best method for causing the most maxillary movement, especially in shorter periods. Some drawbacks with mewing are that, it must be done 24/7 for results to be most effective, something that many will be unable to do, and also, the tongue only exerts 2-4 kilopascals of pressure on the upper palate. Whilst this is enough to make gradual changes to your facial development, it is exactly that, gradual. As a result of this, we must practice mewing in conjunction with other key techniques, to get the most results possible. The first of these key practices is known as thumb pulling, ****which is a much more forceful and mechanical expansion of the internal surface area of our palate. Learn about this in the next section...