How to define your jaw without surgery: this is how you can improve its expression.

For some time now, social media has been talking about mewing, a method that involves moving and positioning the tongue in the mouth in certain ways to define the jaw and improve the appearance of the face.

Genetics definitely determines jaw shape, and since the effectiveness of jaw shaping hasn't been scientifically proven, there are some exercises and procedures you can do to improve your appearance and expression. Below are some expert recommendations:

In the 1970s, British orthodontist John Mew began treating children who came to his clinic outside London with an alternative treatment he designed called orthotropia. He promised to not only align their teeth but also "improve their faces."

Orthotropia is based on the idea that oral posture can influence facial development, improving jaw shape and even tooth alignment. Through certain practices, such as palatal expansion and proper oral posture, the goal is to guide facial growth toward achieving a perfect face.

John Mew practiced orthotropia for 30 years, but the technique didn't become popular until 2012, when Mike Mew, the orthodontist's son, began promoting it on his YouTube channel.

By 2018, the technique already had millions of followers, who decided to rename it " mewing" in honor of its creators. These followers, on their channels, accounts, and vlogs, are proposing using this therapy, initially intended for children, as a beauty treatment for adults.

Based on information from a text written by Gema Díaz Gil, Professor of Anatomy and Human Embryology at the Rey Juan Carlos University, published in The Conversation and reproduced here under the Creative Commons license.