An Interview With Dr. Mike Mew: The Truth About Mewing

Dr. Mike Mew has sparked global debate with his views on facial development, mewing, and the causes of crooked teeth. In this candid interview, he discusses the rise of malocclusion, challenges in orthodontics, viral fame, and practical steps for better oral health — offering a perspective that’s as provocative as it is thought-provoking.

Interview Date: July 28th, 2024

Introducing Dr. Mike Mew

DR: For people who are new to you and your work, could you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?

MM: I’m Dr. Mike Mew, a third-generation orthodontist. My grandfather Gordon and my father John were both in the field. My grandfather wasn’t a specialist — that didn’t really exist at the time — but he was a dentist doing orthodontics and thinking outside the box. He was particularly fascinated by the work of Weston A. Price, who looked into the rising incidence of malocclusion and poor facial growth in modernized societies.

That interest carried into my father’s generation. I was inspired from a young age by what my dad was doing. We approached things from a health perspective: if you want well-aligned teeth, broad dental arches, and a clear nasal airway, you need proper facial growth. What’s fascinating is that faces that grow correctly tend to look good — health and attractiveness are often two sides of the same coin.

Attractiveness might even be considered a visible display of health. Your face is like a CV for your health — a visual resume that potential partners subconsciously read. So I advocate for health, and if that leads to improved looks, fantastic. That brings me to our work.

I worked alongside my father for many years and now run his clinic. We use both appliances and exercises — though I got tired of repeating the exercises constantly, so I put them online. When people from the looksmaxxing community saw a lecture I gave, they found it made logical sense. They started sharing and practicing those exercises, and that’s how “mewing” was born.

The Rising Trend of Malocclusion

DR: The incidence of crooked teeth/malocclusion has been rising over the years. In your opinion, what are the primary causes of this trend?

MM: Malocclusion has steadily increased — especially in the past 50 to 100 years. My hunch is that things started to shift subtly during the agricultural period, but the Industrial Revolution kicked off a sharp acceleration. In recent decades, the change has been exponential.

I believe three primary causes explain this:

1. Lack of effort: We’re not using our jaws and facial muscles the way we used to. Foods are processed and soft. You either process food with machines or with your internal “processing unit” — your jaws. And if you’re not using it, you lose it. It’s like a gym for your face.
2. Poor oral posture: We’ve shifted from obligatory nasal breathing and tongues on the roof of the mouth to mouth breathing and poor posture. Allergies have exploded — peanut allergies didn’t even exist when I was a kid. Blocked noses force mouth breathing, and what starts as a necessity becomes a habit. That posture — lips apart, tongue down, mouth open — retrains the face.
3. Infant feeding practices: Breastfeeding and weaning have changed dramatically. We advocate exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, followed by baby-led weaning and exposure to harder foods. Chewing develops the facial structure. In the past, babies chewed on meat, bones, or hard sticks — and that helped with facial development.

Medicine is about treating causes. For most adults, it’s too late to go back and breastfeed — so we focus on posture and function now.

Early Warnings from Dr. John Mew

DR: In 1998, your father, Dr. John Mew, warned on public TV about the impact of traditional orthodontic treatments on facial form. Was this warning taken seriously at the time, and do you think that people are more receptive to this information today?

MM: Back in 1998, my father went on British TV with a documentary called Dispatches. He warned that up to 20–30% of faces could be damaged by orthodontic treatment. He’d spent decades trying to alert the profession, initially from within. He was even a rising star at one point — “the blue-eyed boy” of orthodontics.

But as he pushed harder for a public debate on the cause of crooked teeth, he faced immense pushback. He challenged the dogma that malocclusion is purely genetic, offering evidence that it’s mostly environmental. Yet the profession refused to engage. They reframed the debate — focusing instead on superficial aesthetics like how far the lips are pulled back — rather than the deeper issue of facial downswing.

Unfortunately, when the Dispatches episode aired, we were on holiday. Social media didn’t exist back then, and the opportunity was missed. People contacted us privately with stories of facial damage, but no one wanted to go public with photos or testimonies. So despite the warnings, little changed.

Resistance Within the Orthodontic Community

DR: You and your father have long advocated for a public discussion on the causes of malocclusion. Why do you believe there is reluctance within your profession to engage in this debate?

MM: My father’s attempt to spark a scientific debate was met with silence. And when I tried to do the same — contacting the General Dental Council, the House of Lords, the British Orthodontic Society, and many others — no one wanted to engage.

Why? Because the entire profession made a fundamental assumption: that malocclusion is genetic. If that’s wrong — and I believe it is — the scientific foundation of orthodontics begins to unravel. The evidence-based movement in orthodontics started too late and built on shaky assumptions. A profession can’t afford to realize it’s been wrong for decades.

Orthodontics has become a profitable business model, built around symptom management — not root causes. Helping people change their posture and function doesn’t make much money. Braces, appliances, and surgeries do.

And if it turns out these treatments contributed to facial damage and sleep apnea? That would be catastrophic — legally, financially, and reputationally. So the debate is actively avoided.

The Viral Rise of ‘Mewing’

DR: ‘Mewing’ has become extremely popular online, amassing billions of views on TikTok and other social media platforms. What factors do you think contribute to its appeal, particularly among younger audiences?

MM: Mewing took off because there was nothing else in that space. I gave a talk, uploaded exercises online, and people — especially in the looksmaxxing community — grabbed it. It resonated because it made sense, and it worked.

I’ve spoken to many young people about it casually, and while they may not know my name, they know the basics: tongue to the roof of the mouth, keep your mouth shut, improve your jawline.

Some people think this is all about vanity — and sure, looks got people in the door. But many stayed because of the health benefits. Better breathing, better sleep, better function. And for those who are consistent, especially younger individuals, the results can be dramatic.

Preventing Crooked Teeth in Children

DR: What advice would you give to parents who want to prevent their children from developing crooked teeth?

MM: This is the million-dollar question. If I could go back, I’d change how I handled things with my second child. We removed her pacifier too early — she had her lips together and was nose-breathing while using it. Once we took it away, things went downhill.

Here’s my best advice:

• Breastfeeding: Aim for at least six months exclusively, and ideally continue with reduced frequency as solids are introduced.
• Baby-led weaning: Offer whole, tough foods, not purees. Let babies chew on dried meats or vegetables.
• Chewing gum: Start early if they enjoy it. It’s one of the best ways to develop the jaw.
• Table posture: Mealtime is the battleground. Insist on upright posture, lips together, and proper chewing.
• Lead by example: Your kids will mimic you. Sit up, chew well, and model good behavior.
• Lip taping: With caution and medical supervision, you can start encouraging nasal breathing during quiet times.

It’s ancient wisdom, really — just brought back with science.

Mewing and the Looksmaxxing Movement

DR: Mewing is a term that is often used within the looksmaxxing community. What are your thoughts on looksmaxxing, and do you consider the pursuit of improving one’s appearance important? If so, why?

MM: The looksmaxxing community made mewing famous — and in some ways, they made me famous. They care deeply about appearance, and I care about health. But since the two are intertwined, we meet at the same goal.

That said, I caution against obsession. Some individuals may go too far — physically harming themselves in pursuit of appearance. I encourage improvement, not obsession. Balance is key.

One of my dreams is to “algorithmize” the human craniofacial structure. If people lend me their data, we can understand what’s possible and what works best. Maybe one day, we’ll have gadgets, supplements, or even neurological tools to support this transformation — but for now, simple awareness and consistency go a long way.

Diet, Evolution, and Oral Health

DR: What are your thoughts on the carnivore diet in regards to oral/dental health and what do you think is the optimal diet for homosapiens?

MM: I’m a fan of the carnivore diet. It makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint — many indigenous groups thrived almost entirely on meat. It’s nutritionally complete, especially when you include organ meats.

Tough, dried meats in particular are great for jaw strength and chewing. They played a big role in early human development, and I often recommend beef jerky or biltong to parents now.

While I’m not a dietitian, the carnivore approach aligns with our ancestral biology in a way modern processed foods do not.

Mouth Breathing During Intense Exercise

DR: What’s your opinion on mouth breathing during extremely high intensity exercise?

MM: Interesting question. There’s a tribe where young men would take a mouthful of water, perform an extreme task, and return to spit it out — demonstrating nose-breathing endurance.

I’d love to test athletes on this. Common wisdom says we must mouth-breathe at high intensities, but I question that. Our ancestors had massive nasal structures — were they really unable to nose-breathe during effort?

Even in the 100-meter sprint, you don’t need to breathe — it’s anaerobic. And look at those sprinters’ craniofacial structure — it’s always strong and well-developed.

So I think there’s more to uncover here.

Behind the Scenes of the Netflix Documentary

DR: Your Netflix documentary ‘Open Wide’ was released earlier this year. How was your experience during the filming process, and are you happy with its reception?

MM: Being filmed was surreal. Cameras, sound crews — the whole setup. But I’m pleased with how it turned out. The filmmakers treated the topic seriously and didn’t make me look foolish.

Unfortunately, the court case wasn’t resolved before the documentary wrapped, so it didn’t get the conclusion we hoped for. Still, I think it told our story well and laid the foundation for future films on this topic.

What to Expect from MewCon

DR: Could you tell us a little bit about your upcoming convention ‘MewCon’ happening next month?

MM: MewCon is happening on August 17th in New York. It’s a new kind of event — where professionals and the public can meet, ask questions, and explore alternatives to mainstream orthodontics.

You’ll hear lectures from top practitioners and have a chance for one-on-one engagement. We need more transparency and challenge in this space. I want to sit in the moderator’s chair and ask tough questions — because truth only comes from challenge.

This is your chance to meet me in a smaller setting. I won’t always be this available.

How to Support the Mewing Movement

DR: What else can people do to support you and your cause? Possibly going online to watch MewCon, joining the community, or purchasing the mewing app?

MM: This mission has nearly broken me — financially, physically, emotionally. Three generations of my family have fought to get this message out.

Here’s how you can help:

• Donate at preventcrookedteeth.com
• Buy the Mewing app — half of your money goes directly to supporting the cause
• Come to MewCon in NYC
• Join the Mew Health Community — we’ll keep you updated and involved

I’m not just trying to make money — I’m trying to start a real scientific investigation into facial growth. We’re just scratching the surface.

Let’s do it together.

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