A Parents’ Guide to the Phrase “Mewing” On TikTok

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Why teens are mewing and how you can respond
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“Mewing,” or the act of pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth to sharpen your jawline, is all the rage on TikTok. Teens left and right are mewing and "looksmaxxing" in an attempt to look good (or avoid answering their teacher's questions). But what does mewing entail? Is it dangerous (answer: it can be)? What should you do when your child is mewing? Keep reading to discover the answers!

What is “mewing”?

Mewing is the act of pushing your tongue to the roof of your mouth and swallowing to make your jawline look sharper and more defined. It is part of the “looksmaxxing” movement, in which people try to make themselves as attractive as possible. Mewing is not scientifically supported and may be harmful if done too often.

Section 1 of 6:

What does “mewing” mean?

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  1. Mewing is a beauty trend that involves placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth against your teeth and swallowing, with the goal of making your jawline pop out by tightening the skin on your chin. [1]
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Section 2 of 6:

Where did mewing come from?

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  1. Mewing originated in the 1970s as a jawline exercise. The term was coined by online users in 2018 in honor of Dr. John Mew, who founded this method of jawline exercise. He advised retraining your tongue to sit at the roof of your mouth in order to accentuate your jawline. His son, Michael Mew, helped him promote the practice. [2]
    • Mewing doesn’t actually correct jaw issues, and it can be harmful if done too much.
    • Dr. John Mew lost his dental license in 2019, although he still practices as an orthodontist.
    • It's also theorized the word "mewing" may have originated from a cat's mew, as kittens make a similar movement with their tongue to mew.
Section 3 of 6:

Why do teens mew?

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  1. Though the practice has been around for decades, the term began trending as a way to strengthen your jawline on TikTok in 2023. People who mew may see mewing as an alternative to using filters or getting surgery. Even though mewing as an exercise is popular, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says that it doesn’t work, and in some cases can lead to undesired outcomes. [3]
    • According to the AAO, mewing can disrupt the alignment of your teeth and worse bite problems and speech issues.
    • If the damage is bad enough, mewing can result in the need for complex, complicated treatment.
  2. 2
    Some teens jokingly mew when they don’t want to answer a question. If asked a question they aren’t fond of, teens may purse their lips together and hold a finger to them, as if to say, "Shh, I'm busy working on my jawline." Then, they may run their finger up and down their jawline to show off the results of their mewing. They don’t do this in seriousness, though.
    • For instance, in a TikTok post by user @ashleyz360, she jokingly mews in response to the question "Why don’t you guys talk in class?”
    • Some adults find mewing to be disrespectful, specifically in a classroom, as it can disrupt learning and make it harder for teachers to teach. [4]
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Section 4 of 6:

Does mewing really work?

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  1. 1
    No, mewing doesn’t actually work. Although it may make your jawline pop, mewing won't restructure your jaw. It is mainly used to temporarily help your jaw pop out. If you want to permanently make your jawline sharper and more defined , the most effective method is cosmetic surgery. If your jaw is misaligned, surgery, tooth repair or removal, and orthodontics is the best way to correct it. [5]
    • You can also practice jaw exercises like chin lifts and frequent smiling.
  2. 2
    Mewing too much can actually damage your jaw. The tongue is the strongest muscle in the body, and forcing it against the roof of your mouth can lead to a host of issues. You can end up disrupting the alignment of your teeth, worsening existing bite problems, and worsening any speech issues you may have.
    • Excessive mewing can even cause you to have trouble processing your food. [6]
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Section 5 of 6:

How to Respond to Mewing

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  1. 1
    If you and the other person are joking around, mew back at them. Do this by moving your tongue to the roof of your mouth and putting your finger to your lips. If you’re older than the person you’re mewing at, this might get a laugh out of them. Since the slang is mainly common among young people, it’ll come off as hilariously jarring to see their teacher or parent mewing.
    • If you don’t want to put your tongue to the roof of your mouth, simply pucker your lips and put your finger to them in a "Shhh" motion. Then, run your finger up and down your jaw.
  2. 2
    If the situation is serious, tell the person that they can mew on their own time. Do this when you’re asking a legitimate question and the other person responds by mewing. This will let them know that you aren’t kidding around. Explain that it doesn’t feel good to be ignored or shushed so they understand where you’re coming from.
    • If they still don’t respond, try asking them why they won’t answer the question. Try to avoid arguing with them, as that can lead to power struggles and make the situation bigger than it needs to be. [7]
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Section 6 of 6:

Other TikTok Slang Terms

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  1. Looksmaxxing refers to big and small self-care techniques that are meant to improve one’s physical appearance (or maximize their looks). Looksmaxxing is often common among young men. Common looksmaxxing techniques include working out, practicing skincare and, in some cases, getting cosmetic surgery.
    • Looksmaxxing is sometimes broken down into softmaxxing, which includes light cosmetic improvements, and hardmaxxing, which usually refers to cosmetic surgery.
  2. 2
    Body count While "body count" historically refers to the number of people killed in war or other disaster, on social media, your body count refers to how many people you've slept with.
  3. 3
    Sigma A sigma is a strong, “lone-wolf” type of person who is independent, successful, and commanding. They are considered rare and prefer not to conform, tending to operate on their own terms.
  4. 4
    Alpha An alpha is a step below a sigma. They are also considered successful and commanding, usually leading whatever group they are a part of. They are fully aware of their looks and skills, often using those abilities to chat up women and climb the ladder at their jobs.
  5. 5
    Beta A beta is a person who is seen as less dominating than others. They are usually kind, respectful, and approachable. They are people pleasers who are often considered more feminine than alphas and sigmas. They often put encouragement and motivation over domination and being demanding. [8]
  6. 6
    Baddie A baddie is a really attractive, feminine person. It is a compliment and a term of endearment that’s mainly used by young people. Although this term is often used to describe women, it can be used to refer to any person who is perceived as attractive. [9]
  7. TikTok slang for "give me the details." "Spill the tea" is often used on social media in reference to gossip or sharing stories.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391(19)30349-0/fulltext
      2. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/20/magazine/teeth-mewing-incels.html
      3. ↑ https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/is-mewing-bad-for-you/
      4. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/what-is-mewing-tiktok-b2514767.html
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2597750/
      6. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2597750/
      7. ↑ https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/answer-me-when-im-talking-to-you-what-to-do-when-your-child-ignores-you/
      8. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/pennstatercl/the-rise-of-the-beta-male/
      9. ↑ https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Baddie

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