Credits: Social Media
‘Mewing’ is the latest TikTok beauty hack people are doing for flawless selfies
A new beauty hack called ‘mewing’ is taking over TikTok right now, with many swearing by it for perfect photos.
What is ‘mewing’ on TikTok?
Mewing is when you suck in your neck to get rid of your double chin and bring out your jaw, making your face look thinner and more defined.
As explained by Paul Frysh in a report on WebMD: “The basic idea behind mewing is that you can change the shape of your jawline if you think about the placement of your tongue in your mouth.”
The name comes from British orthodontist John Mew, who promoted the practice in the 1970s to straighten teeth and stop people’s faces from growing downward.
However, he did not coin the word ‘mewing’, which has emerged on social media in recent years as it becomes the latest beauty standard.
How to do the jaw technique
Frysch explains that mewing can be done using these steps:
- Close your lips
- Move your jaw so your front bottom teeth are behind your front upper teeth
- Cover the roof of your mouth with your tongue
- Place the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth without touching
Making the ‘ng’ sound might help you find the right position, while breathing out of your nose instead of your mouth is also recommended.
TikTok’s latest beauty hack
A report by Carley Millhone on Health warns that no credible research proves that mewing can permanently alter your jaw structure.
Some have also said it can treat health issues like sinusitis, breathing problems and sleep apnea, but there is no proof of that either.
However, people on TikTok aren’t trying to permanently change their face shape, they are using the technique as a quick beauty hack to make themselves look good in photos.
One girl called it her “party trick,” while another wrote: “I can’t believe people didn’t know about mewing”.
The American Association of Orthodontists warns that mewing shouldn’t be used repeatedly to try to change your teeth or jawline
“It could lead to tongue thrusting, or the tongue can even push teeth out of alignment causing bite problems or speech and swallowing problems,” they say.
