The new beauty trend on both Tiktok and the red carpet involves pushing the tongue up against the palate to get a sharper jawline in photos. Some even believe that in the long run you can change your own jaw structure with the “mewing” trick. The trend is one of many examples from the trends “looksmaxing” and “glow-ups” on social media, says fashion scientist Emily Dahl. Controversial technology – from a dentist – Mewing is not really new. It came in the 70s and it was invented by a dentist called Dr. John Mew, she says in Efter fem. The technique was originally invented by the dentist to get a wider row of teeth and a straighter bite, but he also claimed it gave a sharper look. – But there is no research or clinical studies that have proven this to be true. It has become more something that he alone fights for and claims is true, says Emily Dahl. Although research does not support Mew’s argument that it will produce a permanent change, it has been seen that people who do it for many hours can achieve temporary results. “There are always risks” – There are always risks with changing one’s own bone structure or facial musculature without a doctor’s advice. The orthodontists and dentists who deal with questions about Mewing usually say that it can be done in consultation with a dentist, says Emily Dahl. The risks with the musculature and the bite are mainly that it can be painful. But Emily Dahl believes that models and other celebrities have shaped their faces with their tongues throughout the ages. – Duckface was another version of mewing almost. You suck in your cheeks and shape your face temporarily as in the picture, which makes you look better, says Emily Dahl.
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