Mewing has emerged as a buzzword, particularly among teens, sparking curiosity and a bit of bewilderment among adults. But what exactly does mewing mean? More than just slang, mewing is presented as a do-it-yourself facial restructuring technique, and also a clever, albeit cheeky, way for teens to navigate tricky questions. Let’s delve into the meaning of mewing, exploring its purported benefits, its scientific validity, and its trendy role in teen slang.
Mewing: More Than Just a Slang Word
At its core, mewing is rooted in the idea of orofacial posture, specifically tongue placement. Proponents describe it as a technique that involves consciously positioning the entire tongue against the roof of the mouth, with the aim of redefining the jawline and facial structure. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) succinctly describes mewing as a “do-it-yourself facial restructuring method” centered around tongue posture.
The Mewing Technique Explained
The technique itself is seemingly simple: consciously press and hold your entire tongue flat against the palate, the roof of your mouth. Advocates suggest this consistent tongue posture can lead to a more defined jawline, improved facial aesthetics, and even correct misaligned teeth over time. Some online tutorials demonstrate additional steps, including placing a finger over the lips in a “Shhh” gesture and tracing the jawline, further emphasizing the focus on facial contouring.
Scientific Scrutiny: Does Mewing Really Work?
Despite the online buzz and anecdotal claims, the scientific community, particularly orthodontists, remains skeptical about the effectiveness of mewing as a facial restructuring method. The AAO emphasizes the lack of robust scientific evidence supporting these claims. They state, “Unfortunately, scientific evidence supporting mewing’s jawline-sculpting claims is as thin as dental floss.” Facial structure is a complex interplay of genetics, bone growth, and muscle development, and experts argue that simply altering tongue placement is unlikely to produce significant or lasting changes in jawline definition or dental alignment. Orthodontic interventions are typically required to address misaligned teeth or significant jawline issues.
Mewing as Teen Slang: A Clever Way to Dodge Questions
Beyond the purported facial restructuring benefits, mewing has taken on a new dimension as teen slang. Philip Lindsay, a special education math teacher known as Mr. Lindsay on TikTok for deciphering teen slang, highlights mewing’s popularity in schools. According to Lindsay, teens use “mewing” as a non-verbal response, particularly when they want to avoid answering a question from authority figures like teachers or parents.
In this context, “mewing” becomes a playful deflection, a way to signal “I can’t answer your question right now. I’m mewing. I’m working on my jawline.” Lindsay observes that students find humor in using mewing in this manner, often as a lighthearted attempt to evade questions rather than a serious commitment to the technique itself.
Mewing and Looksmaxxing: Contextualizing the Trend
To understand mewing fully, it’s helpful to place it within the broader context of “looksmaxxing.” As defined by Urban Dictionary, looksmaxxing refers to “the physical improvement of a person’s body… in order to make oneself more attractive or easier to like.” Looksmaxxing is a trend, particularly among teen boys, encompassing various self-improvement strategies, ranging from “softmaxxing” (minor enhancements like mewing) to “hardmaxxing” (more drastic measures like cosmetic surgery). Mewing, in this context, represents a readily accessible and non-invasive method, aligning with the desire for self-improvement and enhanced physical appearance that drives the looksmaxxing trend.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “mewing” is a term with dual meaning. Firstly, it refers to a DIY technique involving tongue posture, claimed to enhance jawline definition, though lacking scientific validation. Secondly, and perhaps more prominently in teen culture, mewing functions as slang, a humorous way to avoid answering questions. While the jaw-reshaping claims remain unsubstantiated, mewing’s role as a trending term, both as a technique and a slang expression, is undeniable, reflecting broader cultural trends around self-improvement and youth communication.
