Jawline Maneuver: Understanding Mewing, Its Claims, and Scientific Evidence

What is the jawline maneuver?

The jawline maneuver, often popularized as "mewing," refers to a specific tongue posture and oral habit aimed at improving facial aesthetics, particularly jawline definition, and potentially influencing craniofacial development and breathing patterns.

Understanding the Jawline Maneuver

The term "jawline maneuver" broadly encompasses techniques focused on altering oral and tongue posture to enhance the appearance of the jawline and lower face. While various methods exist, the most widely recognized and discussed is "mewing," a concept advanced by British orthodontists John and Mike Mew. The premise is that proper resting tongue posture, with the entire tongue pressed against the roof of the mouth, can influence facial bone structure, muscle tone, and overall aesthetic outcomes, particularly when practiced consistently over time.

Anatomy and Biomechanics Behind Jawline Aesthetics

A well-defined jawline is a product of several anatomical factors, including bone structure, muscle development, and fat distribution. Understanding these components is crucial to appreciating the proposed mechanisms of the jawline maneuver:

• Mandible (Lower Jawbone): The size, shape, and angle of the mandible are primary determinants of jawline prominence.
• Masseter Muscles: These powerful chewing muscles, located on the sides of the jaw, can contribute to jaw width and definition when well-developed.
• Submental Fat: Excess fat deposits under the chin ("double chin") can obscure the jawline, regardless of underlying bone or muscle structure.
• Hyoid Bone: This floating bone in the neck is crucial as it anchors the tongue and neck muscles. Its position is influenced by tongue posture and head posture, which in turn affects the soft tissues of the neck and chin.
• Tongue Posture: When the tongue rests against the roof of the mouth, it theoretically provides upward and forward pressure on the maxilla (upper jaw) and indirectly influences the mandible's position and the tension of suprahyoid muscles, which lift the hyoid bone and floor of the mouth.

How to Perform the Jawline Maneuver (Mewing Technique)

The core of the jawline maneuver, or mewing, involves maintaining a specific tongue posture throughout the day and night.

• Proper Tongue Placement: The entire tongue, from tip to back, should be pressed firmly against the roof of the mouth (palate).
  • The tip of the tongue should rest just behind the front teeth, without touching them.
  • The middle and back of the tongue are crucial; these parts must also be engaged and suctioned upwards against the palate. Many find engaging the back of the tongue the most challenging aspect.
• Breathing: Nasal breathing is essential. Mouth breathing encourages a low tongue posture, which is contrary to the maneuver's goals.
• Lip Seal: Lips should be gently sealed without strain.
• Teeth Alignment: Teeth should be lightly touching or slightly apart, not clenched.
• Swallowing: When swallowing, the tongue should move in a wave-like motion from front to back against the palate, pushing food/liquid down, rather than using cheek or lip muscles.

This posture should be maintained passively as much as possible, becoming an unconscious habit over time. Some proponents advocate for more active engagement, such as applying gentle pressure with the tongue for short periods.

Proposed Benefits and Claims

Advocates of the jawline maneuver propose a range of benefits, often extending beyond mere aesthetics:

• Improved Jawline Definition: By theoretically promoting forward growth of the maxilla and maintaining optimal mandibular position, it's claimed to enhance the angle and prominence of the jawline.
• Enhanced Facial Symmetry: Some believe consistent practice can lead to more balanced facial features.
• Better Breathing: Encouraging nasal breathing can improve oxygen intake, reduce snoring, and potentially alleviate sleep apnea symptoms.
• Correction of Malocclusion: In growing individuals, it's sometimes claimed to guide proper dental alignment and prevent or correct issues like overbites or underbites.
• Alleviation of TMD Symptoms: By promoting proper jaw and tongue alignment, some suggest it can reduce symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).

Scientific Evidence and Expert Consensus

Despite the widespread interest and anecdotal reports, the scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of the jawline maneuver, particularly for adults, is limited and largely inconclusive.

• Lack of Robust Clinical Trials: There is a significant lack of high-quality, peer-reviewed studies specifically investigating the "jawline maneuver" or "mewing" in adult populations to substantiate claims of facial restructuring or significant aesthetic changes.
• Orthodontic Perspective: Mainstream orthodontics acknowledges the profound impact of tongue posture, breathing, and oral habits on craniofacial development, especially in children and adolescents. Orthotropic principles, as proposed by the Mews, emphasize guiding facial growth through natural means. However, the ability to significantly alter bone structure in adults through tongue posture alone is generally not supported by the broader scientific and medical community. Adult bone structure is largely fixed.
• Fat Loss and Posture: For many, perceived improvements in jawline definition are more likely attributable to overall body fat reduction, improved head and neck posture (which can reduce the appearance of a "double chin"), or simply an increased awareness of their facial muscles.
• Professional Consultation: Medical and dental professionals typically advise caution, emphasizing that significant structural changes in adults usually require surgical or orthodontic interventions.

Potential Risks and Considerations

While generally considered low-risk, incorrect or obsessive practice of the jawline maneuver can lead to potential issues:

• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Discomfort/Disorders: Excessive force or incorrect tongue placement might strain the TMJ, leading to pain, clicking, or dysfunction.
• Dental Issues: Applying uneven pressure with the tongue or clenching teeth can potentially lead to tooth sensitivity, wear, or even unwanted tooth movement.
• Muscle Fatigue/Pain: Persistent, unnatural muscle tension in the tongue, jaw, or neck can result in fatigue, headaches, or pain.
• Unrealistic Expectations: Believing that subtle tongue posture can dramatically reshape the adult face can lead to disappointment and distract from more effective, evidence-based solutions for aesthetic concerns.
• Distraction from Medical Issues: Self-diagnosing and attempting to "correct" issues like malocclusion or sleep apnea solely through mewing can delay appropriate professional medical or dental intervention.

Holistic Approaches to Jawline Health and Aesthetics

For those seeking to improve jawline definition and overall facial health, a multi-faceted approach is often more effective and evidence-based:

• Body Composition Management: Reducing overall body fat through diet and exercise is the most direct way to reduce submental fat and reveal underlying bone structure.
• Posture Correction: Improving head and neck posture can significantly impact the appearance of the jawline. A forward head posture can shorten neck muscles and create the illusion of a less defined jawline.
• Targeted Exercises (Caution Advised): While specific exercises for the jaw and neck muscles exist, their impact on bone structure is negligible. They may help improve muscle tone in the area.
• Professional Consultation:
  • Orthodontists: For issues related to bite, tooth alignment, and jaw development.
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: For significant structural concerns that may require surgical intervention.
  • Dermatologists/Plastic Surgeons: For fat reduction (e.g., liposuction, Kybella) or skin tightening procedures.
  • Physical Therapists: For addressing postural issues or TMD.

Conclusion

The jawline maneuver, or mewing, is a practice centered on maintaining specific tongue posture to influence facial aesthetics and potentially overall health. While the concept of proper oral posture influencing craniofacial development holds merit in the context of growth (children and adolescents), robust scientific evidence supporting its ability to significantly reshape the adult jawline is currently lacking. Individuals interested in this practice should approach it with realistic expectations and prioritize consultation with healthcare professionals, such as orthodontists or oral surgeons, to address specific concerns about jawline aesthetics or oral health. For most adults, optimizing body composition and improving general posture will likely yield more noticeable and scientifically supported results for jawline definition.