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Artisan Dentistry's Blog

Have You Tried Mewing? Here’s the Take of a Dentist in Salem, NH

Jan 31st, 2024

In our dental practice in Salem, we believe in scientifically proven dental treatments. Mewing is not one of these treatment. While some people present this facial exercise as having scientific backing, looking at it with just a bit of critical thinking reveals that its unproven. Furthermore, the American Association of Orthodontists has warned that trying to perform mewing or any other form of DIY orthodontics could result in harm.

What is Mewing

Mewing is a technique named after Dr. John Mew or his son Dr. Michael Mew, a couple of British orthodontist. It involves positioning the tongue against the roof of the mouth while keeping the lips closed and teeth slightly touching or close together. Advocates of mewing claim that it can help reshape the jawline, improve facial structure, and even alleviate some health issues like sleep apnea or breathing problems. The General Dental Council in the UK has stripped Dr. John Mew of his license and the British Orthodontic Society has expelled Dr. Michael Mew, which already makes one wonder if they should even try mewing at all.

Why Do People Think Mewing Could Work

There are a few of reasons why people might be fooled into believing that mewing works:

  1. It’s Named After a Dentist: The technique is named after a father and son team of dentists and these two are actively promoting it. Since they are actual dentists it makes sense people would trust them. These dentists are finally getting into trouble though for spreading misinformation and for performing treatments that have no scientific basis.
  2. Anecdotal Evidence: Some individuals who have practiced mewing share before-and-after photos showing changes in their facial structure. These testimonials contribute to the belief in the efficacy of mewing. This ignores the fact that images can be manipulated and that people can look different depending on angle or how they pose.
  3. Alignment and Posture: There is a field of medicine called orthotropic that’s related jaw alignment in young patients. Since there are treatments that can conceivably adjust jaw structure people then make the leap in thinking that mewing could conceivably work.

What Damage Mewing Could Actually Do

While mewing is often promoted as a natural and non-invasive technique, incorrect practice or extreme measures can lead to issues. Dental organizations are warning of several dental issues resulting from mewing. This technique could cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Excessive pressure or incorrect tongue posture can lead to jaw pain, clicking, or locking of the temporomandibular joint which then requires TMJ treatment. It can also lead to misalignment of teeth which could contribute to wear on the teeth and require Invisalign or some other orthodontic treatment to correct.

If you live near Salem, NH and have a medical concern that is making you consider mewing, please talk to our dentist first. Dr. Paul Mathew is a dentist that specializes in TMJ disorders and offers orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign. Book a dental consultation to see which science-backed solutions are available to help you.

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Anyone can train to be a technician, but few have the talent to become an artist. That’s why Dr. Mathew is able to guarantee his cosmetic dentistry work for a full 5 years. If anything goes wrong with the work, Dr. Mathew will fix it free of charge, as long as you continue with your regular 6 month preventative care cleaning and check up for the duration of the warranty.

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Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

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Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

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The information presented here is not intended or implied to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should be used for informational purposes only.