What is mewing beauty hack on TikTok? Is the trend controversial?
Another day, another trend. TikTok has undeniably become the go-to medium for discovering (or rejecting) cosmetic trends and procedures. According to TikTok influencers, "mewing" is the most recent quick-fix beauty trend that dramatically alters one's face.
Here's why people online can't stop talking about mewing and everything else you need to know about it.
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What is mewing?
"Mewing, also known as orthotropic, is a practice in which you place your tongue on the roof of your mouth to change the placement of your teeth, change your face shape, and alter your jawline over time," explained Cosmetic Dental Studios as per USA Today. TikTok users swear that mewing helped them completely change their faces, offering before and after photos to show their new etched facial structures (reduction of facial fat) and clearly more developed stances.
Mewing has an orthodontic basis and has traditionally focused on jaw position. "Mewing was invented by an orthodontist named John Mew, hence the name," Dr Veytsman explains. Furthermore, Daniel Rubinshtein, DDS, a cosmetic dentist, explains that mewing "was used to affect jaw changes in children and adults without jaw surgery," as per outlet.
Is the trend controversial?
John Mew, a British dentist, and Mike Mew, his son, came up with the term "mewing." They taught modifying face shapes and structures through facial activities, however, most dental specialists concur in reproving their cases. One dental specialist told that Mew was "a complete idiot," as per The New York Times.
According to the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, John, who established the London School of Orthotropics, resigned in 2017 after losing his license from the General Dental Council in the United Kingdom "on grounds of misconduct for publicly denigrating the traditional practices of orthodontic tooth movement."
According to hearing documents, Mike is currently awaiting results from a hearing that the General Dental Council held earlier this month. The hearing was held after treatments for patients who were two years old and six years old were deemed "inappropriate and/or misleading."
Does mewing actually work?
Mewing is seen online as a free option in contrast to plastic medical procedures or orthodontia, which can cost up to a huge number of dollars. However, industry professionals claim that the outcomes are not as claimed. Additionally, the treatment was originally intended to target children rather than mature adults, according to the Mews.