Mewing (not kittens or cats)
John Mew, a discredited orthodontist in England for his “orthotropic” theory of facial growth, and his orthodontist son, Mike, have a very popular Netflix series for all those who believe alternative orthodontics offers something more positive and natural than traditional orthodontic treatment.
US orthodontic specialists are trained under rigorous evidenced based science standards with an indoctrinated doubt and skepticism about unsubstantiated claims for self- promotion and profit.
Their idea is that oral muscular exercise, “Mewing”, done properly (?), can resolve malocclusion. Not only will teeth align, cheekbones will enlarge, the nose will straighten, the jawline improves shape, the maxilla moves forward, reduces wrinkles, and believe it or not, extends lifespan and all wars will cease. No appliances are necessary, and “Mewing” reduces the risks, harm and failures of traditional braces.
No wonder this is causing a stir, the Mews must have discovered the lost “Holy Grail” of orthodontics buried beneath a British bog. Like every scam, there is an element of truth well known for thousands of years, the tongue’s position, posture and function influence facial development, but no more so than nasal breathing and multiple other contributing factors. All the beautiful faces I have ever seen did not happen by “Mewing”, so just maybe the Mews are missing something.
It might be of interest to learn that these exercises are supposed to be done 8 hours/day for years before the final beautiful result is obtained. How many kids can you get to exercise for 30 minutes/day? Obviously, if you did not get the result you expected, it was because you did not exercise your muscles enough, it was not “Mewing’s” fault. You are also charged a fee to view the Netflix videos for the next DIY orthodontic fad. Smile Direct did not work out so well and gave Dentistry a black eye and further eroded the public’s trust in our broken health care system.
Unfortunately, “Mewing” is just another deception in Dentistry, not to deny the benefit of exercise for all muscle activity, that is a given, but making claims without proof is unethical. One of the more damaging claims from “neo-orthodontists” is that extractions cause sleep apnea. Sorry guys, the worst failures in orthodontics are because someone tried to get all the teeth into a mouth with inadequate bone and gum tissue to support each tooth. There are biological and physiological limits to how many teeth can correctly fit in each mouth, making extractions sometimes necessary without changing facial features. The number of teeth has nothing to do with sleep apnea, final nail in coffin. Claims Invisalign are making on social media are false and misleading and both Canada and US Orthodontic Associations have censored their advertising.
The buyer does not have to beware if you are willing to consult with a real student of orthodontics who is concerned about your making an informed decision that may not extend your life but will last a lifetime with care.
John B. Harrison DDS,MSc
