We recommend that tongue exercises are done over a period of at least 12 weeks. In the first week, you can start with just one spot daily to get used to the exercise and to gradually change your tongue.
An Overview of Proper Tongue Posture
When your tongue is at rest, the tip of your tongue should touch the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth, as a study published in Radiology and Oncology notes. The tip of your tongue shouldn't rest low on the floor of your mouth.
Holding the tongue in poor position can lead to dental and other problems. It may sound strange and unusual, but tongue posture is a real thing, and it can cause some very real problems. 50% of Americans have incorrect tongue posture.
The skull bones are flexible, fibrous joints and they can alter position over time. When we practice good tongue posture, the Maxilla (bones of your upper teeth, nose and parts of your cheek) are lifted up against the natural weight of gravity, thus giving a more lifted and defined face.
For these reasons, improper tongue posture results in an abnormally long face, a recessed jawline and chin, a flatter nose, a narrower mouth, a gummy smile and ultimately, crowded teeth. Not only does it have aesthetic consequences, but also functional, whereby the muscles in the face and jaw do not function properly.
Proper tongue positioning leads to a more attractive face with higher cheekbones and a stronger jawline because the muscles in your mouth are where they are supposed to be. People who hold their tongue correctly are also less likely to have crowded, crooked teeth.
Mewing takes time! Some lucky people see results in a few months (usually teenagers). But most people need 6+ months to see mewing results. Make sure you're doing it right and keep at it!
How do I know if I'm mewing correctly? In a proper mewing tongue position, the entire tongue — including the back — is suctioned against the top of the mouth, with the tip of the tongue resting just behind but not touching the teeth.
Does Mewing Work? No credible research proves mewing can permanently alter your jaw structure. There's also no evidence mewing can treat health issues like sinusitis, breathing problems, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), or sleep apnea.
Incorrect tongue posture is related to the tongue resting against the teeth, between the teeth or on the floor of the mouth. Low tongue posture typically develops due mouth breathing, a sucking habit or tongue tie and must be corrected as soon as possible to restore normal function and balance to the orofacial muscles.
Put something flat like a spoon or tongue depressor on your tongue. Push against your tongue with the flat object, and push your tongue against the object. Hold for a couple of seconds. Repeat 5 times.
The teeth should not touch ever – except when swallowing. This comes as a big surprise to most people. When not chewing or swallowing, the tip of the tongue should rest gently on the tip and back of the lower incisors.
Am I resting my tongue in the wrong place?” The truth is, about 50% of Americans have something called improper tongue posture or positioning. That's right, there is, in fact, a correct place to rest your tongue.
“Mewing has its cons – firstly, the technique can only change your appearance for a temporary amount of time," says Dr. Tara. “Mewing requires you to keep your teeth touching at times that are unnatural, which can potentially wear them down and maybe even cause cracks in the enamel,” she adds.
Should your teeth touch when mewing? Yes, your teeth should gently touch while mewing. Don't press your teeth hard against one another. Your bottom center teeth should lightly rest against the back of your front center teeth.
In the video above, Dr Mike Mew says that for those over 25, mewing will be less effective. In orthotropics, we encourage parents to have their children treated at a young age for this very reason. It is much easier to correct facial posture and create lifelong results in young children than adolescents and adults.
At first, mewing may feel strange and uncomfortable. Fortunately, your tongue muscles will eventually get used to it and after a while, it'll become much easier. Mewing can lead to a variety of benefits.
Apparently, a person should feel mild pressure across the middle of their face, jaw, and chin if they are mewing correctly.
One of the main reasons some people get negative mewing results is applying too much force on one side of the palate. When you apply too much force, you might have facial asymmetry, meaning that one side of your face might look different from the other.
Known as “tongue positioning,” there is a right and wrong way. When closing the mouth, the teeth should be slightly apart while the tongue rests on the roof of the mouth but not against the teeth. Not only does this correct form of tongue positioning ensure better oral health, but it also prevents teeth from shifting.
Proper Tongue Positioning
When your mouth is at rest, your tongue should be against the roof of your mouth, but it should not be pressing against any of your teeth. Your teeth should be slightly apart, and your lips should be closed.
This involves placing the tongue lightly on the top/roof of your mouth wherever it is most comfortable while allowing the teeth to come apart, and relaxing the jaw muscles. Often putting your tongue gently on the roof of your mouth like when you softly say “n” or “no”, “never”, “nothing” is a comfortable position.
The answer is simple. Ideally, you should aim to mew 24/7, just like you would strive to maintain good posture throughout the day. While it may be challenging to remember to mew constantly, the more you practice, the more you'll see the benefits.