Have you heard of mewing?

The unusual health technique is gaining popularity on YouTube and Instagram, but not many people are sure about what it is.

The practice claims to have many health benefits, as well as improving your facial structure.

Here's everything you need to know about mewing.

What is mewing?

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The mewing technique is to do with tongue posture, and how your tongue rests in your mouth.

According to the theory, coined by Dr Mike Mew, having the correct tongue, jaw and neck posture can help improve jaw problems, mouth muscle pains, and sleep apnea - a disorder characterised by pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep.

Some fans of the technique claim that it can also help define your jawline, as well as gently align your upper and lower teeth, especially if they're crooked.

Dr Mew says mewing was largely created for health improvements and is not necessarily to do with beauty, although "in this scenario they're fairly synonymous, and so are largely the same thing".

Who is Dr Mike Mew?

Dr Mike Mew runs a dentistry practice in London.

After qualifying as a dentist in 1993 he went into general practice, community dentistry and facial surgery.

He then entered an Orthodontic programme at Aarhus University in Denmark, and qualified as a specialist dentist in 2004.

Dr Mike Mew runs his own YouTube channel called Orthotropics, which focuses on "natural facial growth guidance" achieved by muscle strengthening exercises and posture improvement.

Why is mewing so popular on social media?


There are hundreds of videos on YouTube dedicated to the technique, with many fans claiming it has helped them achieve a more prominent or chiselled jawline.

YouTuber Elisha Long claims that mewing has helped align his upper and lower teeth.

In a recent video titled How to Mew - Mewing Technique (Correct Tongue Posture), Elisha says: "I started mewing and it's kind of like my teeth are gently resting on top of one another throughout the day.

"I did this by pushing my tongue up against the roof of my mouth. I still have a little over bite, I think that it's natural to have a slight overbite but it used to be very exaggerated."

Mewing is also starting to gain popularity on Instagram, but it's not as popular here as it currently is on YouTube.

However, there are a number of diagram pictures showing its benefits, and how to follow the practice at home.

This picture uploaded by @secondtimehope says: "Did you know proper tongue posture at rest and while swallowing can affect your bite, arch and even your whole face structure, especially when achieved at an early age?"