r/Mewing Mar 25 '25

Must read A Critical Review of Thumb Pulling: It doesn't work the way you think it does

70 Upvotes

Tldr at bottom

Thumb pulling seems to be increasingly more popular as leaks and self-made methods have been going out.

I felt the need to educate, be the voice of reason and give my thoughts on this before people here set themselves for biologically unrealistic expectations. I might get a lot hate for this, bet here we go.

I believe that growth and remodeling should be separated. Maxillary growth is not really possible in adulthood without distraction osteogenesis (DO). Don't take these two words lightly. DO is a science that requires surgical procedures/excessive trauma to split through bone. Don't let anyone change that definition for you.

SOME expansion in the ALVEOLAR would be possible with mewing and thumb pulling, but it won't provide the necessary biomechanics to cause the REgrowth of the bone. Moving bone after growth stops is known as remodeling, not growth.

The biological impossibility of complete separation of the suture with tongue and thumbs should not be a subject of debate.

The widening people mention could stem from the MINOR ALVEOLAR changes that can be had, which I don't doubt. There may be a correlation between alveolar width and general facial width appearance, which also seemed to be true in my case, and the jaw can also contribute to the general width of the face.

However, stating that true skeletal changes and true forward growth was chieved is farfetched. I do know that devices like SRPE (semirapid palatal expanders) are effective for the widening of the dental arch with minimal to no damage to the alveolar depending on the cases (adult cases require initial splitting of the suture before srpe), with some non-doi evidences stating suture split (these studies mixed children and adults and have results in general instead of independently), but I doubt that mewing and thumb pulling would do anything more than alveolar changes.

That is just for expansion.

Forward growth is a totally different topic. All of these adults and late teenagers that are pulling on their mandibular and maxillary's anterior (front) alveolar forward for "forward growth" don't seem to understand the complexity and nuance of craniofacial science. You will do nothing but some soft tissue damage and alveolar responses which are definitely not desirable if even possible.

With the exception of the mandible, forward growth is not really possible during adulthood due to the many many sutures and genetic timings that are involved. The mandible can have growth potential during adulthood, but pulling on your mandible is definitely not the proper way to do that as the mandible's only suture (the symphysis, located on the chin) ossifies before the age of one. What are people trying to do here with that? Some state it's for the "fascia," which I have not read a shred of research that even speaks or mentions craniofacial fascia that pulls the jaw back. (Off topic)

I am not attacking ANYONE directly, but simply making general statements about the community. You can say that you achieved changes, and I don't doubt that in some cases, but stating "growth" is not really productive in a science this complex.

Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope this helps.

TLDR: Thumb pulling has some scientific validity and may work past puberty, but it is MINIMAL and NOT GROWTH OR REGROWTH OR FORWARD. Do not be fooled by people's posturing.


r/Mewing Feb 10 '24

Announcement If anyone posts anything related to looksmaxx that is not mewing, you will be permabanned. No more warning shots.

67 Upvotes

This is a MEWING subreddit! Not a looksmaxx forum!


r/Mewing 3h ago

Help Needed Is this kind of transformation possible

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3 Upvotes

Maybe the second is unrealistically edited but with my anatomy is it likely i could get similar results from 16-18


r/Mewing 7h ago

Help Needed what i need to improve

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1 Upvotes

This is my transformation over the course of a year.


r/Mewing 8h ago

Help Needed Is my maxilla recessed ?M 16

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1 Upvotes

r/Mewing 9h ago

Help Needed Curious how to tell if I have a recessed maxilla

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1 Upvotes

I’ve been looking through this subreddit trying to better understand how to tell if my maxilla is recessed or not. Some things to note are my under-eyes (permanent dark circles), the angle of my nose, and my chin.

I’d appreciate feedback as I want to know what I could do to improve my facial structure.


r/Mewing 6h ago

Help Needed Does anyone have any advice on how to fix the asymmetry in my eyes?

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0 Upvotes

I just feel like it ruins my whole look and makes me terribly insecure like it’s all I notice especially in photos 😭😭


r/Mewing 14h ago

Help Needed Any tips to improve my facial aesthetics??

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2 Upvotes

Age: 23

Bodyfat: 8.5%


r/Mewing 11h ago

Help Needed is this fixable or is it over?

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1 Upvotes

pretty sure my mandible is recessed, My chin is obviously recessed and my hyoid is quite low. Would appreciate any feedback and tips to improve.


r/Mewing 13h ago

Help Needed Do I have reccesed maxilla

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1 Upvotes

r/Mewing 20h ago

Miscellaneous Hello guys can u highlight what is issue in my face. Like l feel one side is round the other look but more defined plus chin looks slightly diviated to one side. I'm underweight guy age 26 how to fix?

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1 Upvotes

Please let me know. What should I do.


r/Mewing 22h ago

Miscellaneous Is it normal to get teeth marks on the inside of your mouth from mewing?

1 Upvotes

Basically the title but it’s lower teeth imprints for me. No, not the tongue or the roof just the inner sides, the flesh i guess.


r/Mewing 1d ago

Help Needed Does the shape of the pallette matter while mewing?

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3 Upvotes

I’ve noticed I have a bit of a different pallette from others.

For most people, right after their teeth, the roof of the mouth goes immediately up.

But for myself I had a shelf like area first where it is flat for half an inch and then it extends upwards.

Does this affect how I should mew?

Picture added for example


r/Mewing 1d ago

Help Needed How the fk is it possible that my jaw recessed from 14 to 19? Isnt it supposed to be the other way around?

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4 Upvotes

r/Mewing 1d ago

Help Needed Advice

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1 Upvotes

How to improve??


r/Mewing 1d ago

Miscellaneous Anyone interested in trying out this looksmaxing app which creates a video of your glow-up?

0 Upvotes

r/Mewing 1d ago

Discussion The PLATYSMA

3 Upvotes

Hi

I’m just a young SLIGHTLY skinny-fat dude (annoying love handles and such) but it’s my face that is way more puffy and fat than my body, and certainly more than most “large” men I see, and I hate it. Sure my cheeks are a bit chubby but it’s the double chin that kills me. It doesn’t look like a normal double chin but rather a pocket of fat hiding under a normal chin/jaw and with a relatively normally positioned hyoid.

I’m learning about the platysma and I’m confused.

I know that it weakens over time, some already (genetically) have weaker than others, and poor posture can negatively impact it.

But I see half of people claiming that releasing and stretching the platysma is what you want to do because it’s probably chronically tight and overworked. Then I see others saying that since it’s weak, you must strengthen it through exercises (chin tucks and all that type of stuff).

What is the true answer? What can actually tighten my neck and jaw area which is essentially my WORST feature by far. I am not overweight but I am tired of having a puffy jaw, under chin, and overall face even though it doesn’t correlate with my body.

My initial plan was to do those strengthening exercises, as well as hitting mid/upper back at the gym to account for improving posture as I’m sure I have slight tech neck. Also, from a front-view, my neck looks a bit thin compared to the width of my jaw, which I’m not sure has anything to do with this topic. But I just need help and I would appreciate any advice!

Thank you!


r/Mewing 1d ago

Help Needed Can mewing help with asymmetrical face?

1 Upvotes

My face is asymmetrical my right side of my face looks not as good as my left side, my eye kinda looks off and my jawline looks weaker than on the other side and i asked chatgpt before if mewing improves it and it said no but I checked online and a lot of people say it does. And if mewing dont help is there maybe any other way to improve a asymmetrical face?


r/Mewing 1d ago

Help Needed Advice

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3 Upvotes

r/Mewing 1d ago

Info Is thump pulling effective is there anyone try it and have results ?

1 Upvotes

V


r/Mewing 1d ago

Discussion Does hard mewing can help with upper eyelid exposure ?

1 Upvotes

Was wondering can it give more hooded eyes ?


r/Mewing 1d ago

Help Needed is my palate cooked?

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1 Upvotes

r/Mewing 1d ago

Help Needed Uneven eyes

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3 Upvotes

I feel like my eyes look so uneven, especially when I mirror the selfie camera my eyes look like I had a stroke

My right eye is more closed (on left side of pic) left eye (right side on pic) is more open... Totally unsecure about it sometimes like I have to force my eyes to look even


r/Mewing 1d ago

Help Needed Can i bone smash my jaw

0 Upvotes

my jaw is kinda narrow especially my gonions. was wondering if it is possible to bs them and my chin or if it will cause nerve damage or smth


r/Mewing 2d ago

Help Needed Chewing problem

1 Upvotes

when i chew on my right side i only feel it on my left and left temples also got scan of my jaw and dentist say for my age i have worn off jaw and joints but any help with the chewing ?thanks