If you want to know what does mewing mean and what its benefits are, you’ve come to the right place. It is a simple tongue posture which can transform the bone structure of your face. When you add mewing to your daily routine, it may help you to get a better posture of your lips and tongue.
It can help build a stronger lower jaw and stimulate teeth alignment, especially in the younger population. Mewing is especially helpful to your tongue muscle, as it can strengthen it and, thus, help with tongue ties. How? Keep on reading below to learn.
But before we get into it, here’s what else you’ll read in this post:
- 📑Tongue tie definition.
- 📖4 different types of tongue ties and how to treat them.
- 📌The expected changes on your tongue tie from mewing.
Now let’s dive in!
What is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie or restricted tongue is a health congenial condition. A tongue tie is present at birth and can reduce the ability of the tongue to move freely in the oral cavity. In these cases, the tissue that connects the floor of your mouth to the bottom of your tongue is not normal. It is shorter, thicker, and tighter than normal, and sometimes, this can be visibly seen.
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In some cases, it doesn’t cause any issues even in adulthood, but in other may affect the individual’s normal breathing and can lead to:
- Speech problems;
- Making a gap between the bottom front teeth;
- Poor oral health and;
- Incorrect swallowing.
A tongue tie is most common in babies and small children and usually runs from generation to generation. Older children can also have problems such as eating a certain type of food, playing on a wind instrument, not speaking properly, or sticking out their tongue.
Moreover, their tongue may be heart-shaped, and they may have problems moving it upwards, side to side and forward out of the mouth. Adults may also have problems like:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Snoring
- Teeth grinding
- Tiredness
- Mumbling or stuttering
- Poor quality sleep
- Poor oral health
Types of Tongue Ties
There is a grading system that can describe the type of tongue tie and grade it starting from 1 to 4. However, note that this doesn’t apply to its severity. The first two classes of tongue tie are classed as anterior, while the second two classes are organized as posterior.
The grading is as follows:
Type I: The tongue is heart-shaped; the membrane below the tongue is short and elastic and attaches to the ridge behind the lower teeth with the tip of the tongue in a low tongue posture.
Type II: The tie is clearly seen because the tongue is closer to the ridge behind the lower teeth than when in position from Type I. The tongue is not heart-shaped, and the tie is not so close to the tip of the tongue.
Type III: The membrane is still there, but it is thicker, and it is attached to the base of the tongue.
Type IV: The membrane is not present, and it is not visible, so this type of tongue type can be misdiagnosed. Still, if touched, the examiner can feel the tight fibres attached to the tongue while making the examination, even in the low tongue posture.
What is a “Posterior Tongue-Tie”?
As previously mentioned, anterior tongue ties can be clearly seen, while the posterior tongue tie is not. This is because it is placed further in the mouth, under the tongue.
The symptoms are the same for both tongue tie types. With babies, breastfeeding problems can cause great concern as they lead to many other health conditions.
Determining What Grade of Tongue Tie You Have
If you suspect that your baby or child or someone in your family has a tongue tie you can make a simple check-up at home.
Run with your finger under the baby’s tongue, and if you feel that there is a membrane, which may be strong and elastic, they may have a tongue tie. Your finger may find a slight or big bump or thin or thick flaps of skin that may interfere with the tongue sweep or reach the tip of the tongue.
If you are an adult, you can also try:
- Stretching out your tongue straight;
- Moving the tongue freely in your mouth;
- Opening your mouth as wide as possible and trying to touch the tip of your tongue.
However, examinations from professionals are necessary, especially if you notice some of the symptoms mentioned above in this article.
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Tongue Tie Mewing Technique
If you have a tongue tie, mewing is difficult as the tongue is not flexible, and its movement is restricted so you cannot reach the palate with your tongue. But, it is important to be persistent and make mewing a habit and work on it constantly to improve it.
There are many exercises that can help you improve the mobility of your tongue and teach you the correct tongue posture. However, always make sure to avoid the commonly occurring mewing mistakes if you want to see results faster.
Can Mewing Help Tongue Mobility?
In one word – yes!
With constant exercise, you will increase the mobility of your tongue and release tongue restriction and tongue movement. This will help you to maintain the correct tongue positioning. There are many mewing progress before and after photos, which you can use to see how your face and jaw shape can change.
Aside from helping with your tongue mobility when you have a tongue tie, some of the best things about mewing are:
- Stops your mouth breathing;
- The tongue will start moving freely, touching the floor of the mouth and upper front teeth;
- It can help with nasal breathing and sleep apnea, etc.
Tongue Tie Ways of Treatment
In case the tongue tie causes you a lot of distress and interferes with your daily routines, two surgical procedures can be done:
- Frenuloplasty – a more complex surgery for tongue tie release;
- Frenotomy – simple surgery for tongue tie release.
But why do that when there is a much simpler, non-surgical way? Check out our Mewing Coach app and try out some tongue exercises that can help you if you’re tongue-tied. With just one click of a button, you can practice mewing anywhere, anytime. Download our free app and start releasing your tongue tie with mewing!
