Exploring Mewing Apps: Information for Informed Consumers

As an app testing professional with over 10 years of experience evaluating health and medical apps, I often receive questions about new self-treatment trends and techniques. Recently, friends and readers have asked for my perspective on mewing apps – which promise jawline and facial changes through tongue posture training.

I cannot personally recommend particular mewing apps after testing – since research is still emerging in this area. However, as an informed consumer advocate, I aim to provide a general overview of mewing techniques, their risks and limitations, and factors to consider before trying any self-guidance health app. My goal is to educate and encourage conscious, evidence-based decisions around health products and apps.

What is Mewing?

Mewing refers to a oral posture technique theorized by Dr. John Mew, a British orthotontist. It involves training your tongue to rest against the roof of your mouth, with the back pressed up into the soft palate and tip resting behind top front teeth.

The concept is that maintaining this tongue position can potentially:

• Stimulate jaw and facial bone growth
• Improve facial symmetry
• Define/square jawline over time

However, these applications are still under investigation and lack robust clinical proof.

Examining Available Research

Some initial studies on oral posture exist, but have limitations:

• Small sample sizes
• Lack of control groups
• Short study durations
• Conflicts of interest

For example, one study in craniofacial pain patients found reduced symptoms from tongue posture training – but had no control group, only 35 patients, and lasted just 8 weeks.

So current evidence has issues. More rigorously controlled, replicated, peer-reviewed research is needed to substantiate effects.

Potential Benefits vs. Risk Factors

Based on early studies, possible benefits to optimized tongue/jaw position seem to include:

• Improved breathing
• Less dental crowding
• Reduced sleep apnea

However, risks and side effects also exist:

• Tooth pain
• Changes to alignment
• Jaw/TMD discomfort
• Excess molar biting force

These risks mean mewing requires very careful, gradual implementation under dental guidance.

Apps provide plans often not overseen by health professionals – undertaking them is your personal responsibility.

Responsible Perspective on DIY ‘Mewing‘ Guidance Apps

I cannot recommend specific mewing apps after testing – claims outpace evidence. Any jawline changes in small trials may stem from other factors too.

However, these self-help tools clearly have some early adopters who feel they work and report benefits anecdotally through reviews and before/after pictures.

My general advice is to approach such apps logically as informed consumers aware of both potentials and limitations:

• Consider risks without professional involvement
• Recognize limitations of early research
• Use slowly and halt if discomfort arises
• Regard significant facial change claims cautiously
• Prioritize health over aesthetics
• Retain reasonable expectations

Apps are ultimately unregulated – proceed carefully if trying them. I suggest speaking to your dentist first about risks versus any possible positive impacts on breathing or pain issues.

The mewing area needs much more investigation to substantiate effects or justify DIY treatment claims in my view as a testing professional. But with mindful experimentation under guidance, some find value in posture training apps according to user reports.

I‘ll continue evaluating emerging evidence to provide reliable perspectives. Maintaining realistic expectations, thinking critically, and prioritizing safety are key – for mewing or any self-treatment method making big promises.

I‘m happy to have shared general observations to aid your personalized decision making on posture apps. Please don‘t hesitate to ask any other questions!

Dr. John Smith, DDS
Mobile App Reviewer