# Mewing > Mewing is a tongue-posture technique named after British orthodontist Mike Mew for allegedly reshaping the jawline, which became a viral Gen Z classroom meme featuring exaggerated jaw-flexing poses in 2018-2019. Mewing is a tongue posture technique named after British orthodontist Mike Mew that involves pressing the tongue flat against the roof of the mouth, supposedly to reshape the jawline. The practice originated in orthodontic circles around 2011-2012 but went viral in 2018-2019 through YouTube tutorials and looksmaxing communities. It became a massive Gen Z meme and classroom disruption trend, with students striking exaggerated jawline poses and the term entering brain rot vocabulary by 2024. ## Origin The term traces back to British orthodontist Mike Mew, who created the Orthotropics YouTube channel on October 27, 2011[2]. The channel's first major explainer, "What Is Orthotropics," went up on February 18, 2012, laying out Mike Mew's theories about tongue posture and facial development[2]. His father John Mew originally developed the orthotropics practice, with Mike popularizing it online[3]. Mike Mew runs a dentistry practice in London. He qualified as a dentist in 1993, moved through general practice, community dentistry, and facial surgery before completing an orthodontic program at Aarhus University in Denmark, qualifying as a specialist in 2004[1]. His YouTube channel focused on what he called "natural facial growth guidance" through muscle exercises and posture correction[1]. On March 18, 2014, the 21 Studios uploaded a presentation featuring Mew explaining his theories about tongue posture and jawline correction to a wider audience[2]. - **Platform:** YouTube (Orthotropics channel), RedPillTalk Forums (early adoption), YouTube / TikTok (viral meme spread) - **Creator:** Mike Mew (orthodontist, coined technique), John Mew (orthodontist, co-creator of orthotropics) - **Date:** 2011 (coined), 2018-2019 (viral spread) ## Overview Mewing refers to the practice of resting one's tongue against the roof of the mouth with the goal of altering jaw structure and facial appearance[1]. The technique was developed as part of a broader orthodontic philosophy called "orthotropics," created by John Mew and promoted heavily by his son Mike Mew[3]. Proponents claim it can improve jawline definition, correct teeth alignment, and address issues like sleep apnea[1]. As a meme, mewing took on a life far beyond its dental origins. The gesture of pressing one's tongue upward and tensing the jaw became a recognizable pose in selfies, TikToks, and classroom jokes. The word "mewing" itself turned into slang, often used humorously to describe someone trying to look more attractive or refusing to speak. ## How It Spread The technique first caught attention outside orthodontic circles in June 2014, when a thread about Mew's presentation appeared on the RedPillTalk Forums (then known as SlutHate)[2]. By October 2014, forum users were already asking whether "Mike Mewing" produced real results for adults[2]. This early adoption in looksmaxing and incel-adjacent communities set the trajectory for mewing's later explosion. YouTube became the primary vector for mainstream spread. On April 13, 2018, YouTuber Astro Sky uploaded "Why mewing is important to all!" explaining how the technique improved his jawline[2]. By September 2018, the Orthotropics channel itself posted "Doing Mewing," a video describing reminder techniques for maintaining tongue posture throughout the day[2]. The real breakout came in late 2018 and early 2019. YouTuber Judy Neptune posted "How I Changed My Facial Bone Structure by Mewing" on December 19, 2018, pulling in over 134,000 views[2]. Astro Sky followed with "Mewing For Beginners" on January 19, 2019[2]. Brett Maverick uploaded his own mewing video on February 22, 2019[2]. The Coventry Telegraph published "'Mewing', the new health craze taking over Instagram and YouTube" on February 18, 2019, marking early mainstream media coverage[1]. Google Trends data confirms interest in "mewing" began rising sharply in January 2019[3]. YouTube filled with hundreds of tutorial videos, many featuring before-and-after comparisons and personal success stories[1]. YouTuber Elisha Long claimed the technique helped align his upper and lower teeth, saying "I started mewing and it's kind of like my teeth are gently resting on top of one another throughout the day"[1]. Instagram picked up the trend slightly behind YouTube, with diagram-heavy posts explaining how tongue posture affects "your bite, arch and even your whole face structure"[1]. ## How to Use Mewing works on two levels: as an actual technique and as a meme format. **As a technique:** Place the entire tongue flat against the roof of the mouth (not just the tip), keep lips together, and breathe through the nose[1]. Practitioners typically maintain this posture throughout the day. Some proponents suggest it can gradually reshape the jawline over months or years, though this is not supported by scientific evidence[3]. **As a meme/gesture:** People commonly strike a mewing pose by tensing their jaw, pushing their tongue up, and tilting their head slightly to emphasize jawline definition. This is often done in selfies, TikTok videos, or real-life situations as a joke. In classrooms, students sometimes mime the mewing pose when called on by teachers to humorously avoid answering[3]. **In text/comments:** "I'm mewing" or just "mewing" is used as a humorous response when someone asks why you're being quiet, looking serious, or refusing to engage. The implication is that you're too focused on jaw improvement to talk. ## Cultural Impact Mewing crossed over from internet subculture to mainstream awareness through several vectors. Widespread media coverage in 2019 from outlets like the Coventry Telegraph brought it to audiences unfamiliar with YouTube self-improvement culture[1]. The scientific controversy, particularly Mike Mew's expulsion from the British Orthodontic Society and eventual removal from the UK dental register in 2024, generated its own news cycle[3]. The classroom disruption angle became a notable cultural flashpoint. Reports of students mewing in class to avoid answering questions turned it into a generational marker, the kind of trend that baffles adults and bonds teenagers[3]. Its association with brain rot culture placed it in the same conversation as other Gen Alpha trends that concerned parents and educators[3]. Wikipedia classifies mewing alongside "The Rizzler" in its "See also" section, positioning it firmly within the brain rot meme ecosystem[3]. ## Fun Facts - Mike Mew's father John actually created the orthotropics practice first. Mike brought it to YouTube, and the internet named the technique after the family surname[3]. - The mewing community initially grew on RedPillTalk Forums (formerly SlutHate), one of the more controversial corners of the internet[2]. - Despite being struck from the UK dental register in 2024, Mike Mew's Orthotropics YouTube channel still hosts hundreds of videos on tongue posture and facial development[3][1]. - The Coventry Telegraph's 2019 article was one of the first mainstream media pieces to treat mewing as a real health trend rather than an internet joke[1]. - Google Trends shows the term "mewing" spiking in January 2019, aligning perfectly with the wave of YouTube tutorials from that period[3]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is mewing? Mewing is a tongue posture technique where you press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth, supposedly to improve jawline definition and facial structure. It was named after orthodontist Mike Mew[1]. ### Where did mewing come from? The technique was created by British orthodontists John and Mike Mew as part of their "orthotropics" practice. Mike Mew launched the Orthotropics YouTube channel in October 2011 and began promoting the method online[2]. ### What does mewing mean? In its original sense, mewing means practicing the tongue posture technique. As internet slang, it's used humorously to explain why someone is being quiet or making an exaggerated jaw-tensing face[3]. ### How do you use mewing? Place your entire tongue against the roof of your mouth, keep your lips together, and breathe through your nose. As a meme, just tense your jaw dramatically in photos or when someone asks you a question[1]. ### Is mewing still popular? Yes. While the initial health trend wave peaked in 2019, mewing experienced a massive second life as a Gen Z and Gen Alpha meme associated with brain rot culture, with students doing it in classrooms as of 2024[3]. ### Does mewing actually work? No credible scientific research has proven that mewing changes jaw structure in adults. Most orthodontists do not consider it a viable alternative to traditional treatments[3]. ### Who is Mike Mew? Mike Mew is a British orthodontist who popularized mewing through his Orthotropics YouTube channel. He qualified as a dentist in 1993 and as a specialist in 2004 after studying at Aarhus University in Denmark[1]. He was struck from the UK dental register in 2024[3]. ### Why was Mike Mew expelled from the British Orthodontic Society? He faced a misconduct hearing for allegedly posing harm to child patients who underwent his orthotropic treatments[3]. ### Why do students mew in class? Students adopted mewing as a humorous way to avoid answering questions when called on by teachers. By striking the jaw-tensing pose, they signal they "can't talk" because they're mewing[3]. ### Is mewing related to brain rot? Yes. Mewing is frequently listed alongside terms like "rizz," "sigma," and "skibidi" as part of Gen Alpha brain rot vocabulary[3]. ### How did mewing go from health trend to meme? The technique spread through YouTube self-improvement channels in 2018-2019, then got absorbed into looksmaxing and incel communities before breaking into mainstream TikTok humor[2][3]. ### What is the connection between mewing and looksmaxing? Mewing was one of the earliest and most accessible looksmaxing techniques discussed on forums like RedPillTalk, which helped normalize it in appearance-optimization communities[2][3]. ## References 1. ['Mewing', the new health craze taking over Instagram and YouTube | Coventry Live]() 2. [Mewing - Know Your Meme]() 3. [Mewing (orthotropics)]() 4. [Mewing - Urban Dictionary]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/mewing Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library