Mew and mewing
There are many definitions of mew. A mew is a small gull (Larus canus), found in Eurasia and Western North America. It is also a verb, meaning to make a high-pitched crying noise. Cats and some birds mew. A mewing cat is hard to ignore!
Trained hawks are kept in falconry mews, but a mews house is extremely desirable living accommodation converted from stables and highly sought after for those with the means. For example, mews properties in London can command prices of two million and more.
A mew sometimes describes a back street, or a place in which to hide.
There is an alternative meaning of mewing, which has nothing to do with cats, birds or houses. In the 1970s, a British orthodontist, Dr John Mew, posited the idea of proper tongue placement and facial exercises as a means of resculpting the face. It is also known as orthotropics. Basically, it requires the tongue to be pressed against the roof of the mouth and kept there.
It became popular in the early 2010s, through social media, but around 2018, vloggers brought the practice to greater notice through YouTube and other platforms like TikTok and Instagram. With the growing trend for health and beauty among younger people, and their desire to replicate the airbrushed, photoshopped celebrities they see wherever they look, there are now a multitude of apps and websites to assist them in their search for perfection.
Some of the claims are preposterous. For example, mewing might stimulate bone growth in the maxilla (upper jaw) and improve facial symmetry. Some practitioners have asserted that mewing has helped with sleep apnoea and swallowing problems. Apparently, ‘Improper swallowing may lead to skewed teeth.’
People are warned that the correct tongue placement should be maintained throughout both day and night. Visible results may not be seen for anything from months to years and may be subtle! Mewing should be conducted for at least twenty minutes a day and thirty minutes would be better.
Many claims have been made for the effectiveness of mewing exercises, but no scientific evidence has been found thus far.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) states, ‘the scientific evidence supporting mewing’s jawline-sculpting claims is as thin as dental floss.’
I would say that that statement could apply to all the claims made for mewing.
What a strange way to use your time. Of course that doesn't work. People put their faith in the strangest things.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were going to talk about cat sounds 😺
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting post. Where do you find these things to write about? It seems the kind of thing someone would look up on a whim
ReplyDelete