Greetings,
When I began mewing, I assumed that one of my main problems was a narrow palate - as is the case for many here. However, today for the first time I have properly measured my inter-molar distance. To my surprise, all the readings fell within the range 40-42 mm, which is not bad at all, by my standards. I believe that I have achieved some expansion since starting to mew about 6 months ago, but since I was fairly lax with it until recently, I do not believe that I have expanded by much. Point being, despite having a terribly retruded maxilla, my inter-molar width was likely acceptable to begin with (likely around 40 mm). Nevertheless, my tongue still has trouble fitting entirely between my teeth. In fact, when I flatten it out against the palate, it pushes slightly against my molars.
Based on the above, I have the following questions:
Are some people simply meant to have wider palates than others? For instance, despite having an inter-molar width of 40-42 mm, I believe that I need to expand much more before my tongue can be comfortable.
Despite my posture and my inter-molar width being acceptable (by today's standards), my maxilla is extremely retracted. This is likely due to my childhood mouth-breathing habits - fair enough. However, I know people who have horrible posture, and very narrow palates (low 30s), who have much better looking, more forward-grown faces. Sure, there are a lot of factors, but what gives?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
24 years old
Read this.. /community/community/main-forum/growing-an-awesome-face/ I agree with what you're saying. Many orthodontists add up the width of the top and bottom teeth to get total perimeter and try to create a nice arc. Focusing exclusively on the intermolar width can cause gaps or take from arc length (front to back). I've seen documented cases of this happening... in fact it's a common occurrence. How else can you get width? Unless you're plastering onto teeth... they come the size they come in & something must give. I think 38/39 is fairly stable from what I read. Thing is... when you widen just even 1 mm... it takes MORE than that all around the perimeter.. some calculation with pi. Anyway... geometry is involved to an extent. Truth be told... old school orthodontists go more by #s and try to get them spot on while newer ones realize the individual's each unique biology & needs.... taking those into consideration. That is an overgeneralization... but it seems to reflect their training. I had written that to address this very thing! People on here are NUTS for arch width and it's not always best to consider it in silo! This is especially for those who are narrow to begin. Having a more narrow arch perimeter typically means smaller teeth coming in on secondary tooth growth. The more room that's created in a child (phase 1) then the more likely the chance their teeth will fill the larger available void with larger/wider teeth. Crowded arches can impact the ultimate size of teeth as they develop (to some extent). Look up Tooth Size Discrepancy here: https://drbarrowes.com/before-after-gallery/
Thank you for the reply.
You seem to have at least a slightly different view of things, than other users on this forum. In that vein, based on your research do you believe that it is possible for an adult (23 M), to advance the maxilla forward/upwards over several years, with proper oral posture, exercises, good diet, etc.?
I am asking because as of late, I have noticed that people on here have been becoming more skeptical (which to some extend is good) and more negative. Undoubtedly, this is partly due to few accurate before/after pictures and other such evidence. Still, the idea behind bone remodeling (even in adults) makes a lot of sense to me. I suspect that the reason for the increase of negativity around here can also be attributed to the fact many who try mewing (or more generally, improving their oral posture), do not do it right. This is evidenced by Krollic's post: /community/community/main-forum/please-make-absolutely-sure-that-you-are-mewing-properly-because-you-may-be-wasting-your-time-and-progress-a-warning-from-me/#post-7132
Furthermore, orthotropics is still a young field, and its foray into adult treatment has only just begun.
24 years old
Thank you for the reply.
You seem to have at least a slightly different view of things, than other users on this forum. In that vein, based on your research do you believe that it is possible for an adult (23 M), to advance the maxilla forward/upwards over several years, with proper oral posture, exercises, good diet, etc.?
I am asking because as of late, I have noticed that people on here have been becoming more skeptical (which to some extend is good) and more negative. Undoubtedly, this is partly due to few accurate before/after pictures and other such evidence. Still, the idea behind bone remodeling (even in adults) makes a lot of sense to me. I suspect that the reason for the increase of negativity around here can also be attributed to the fact many who try mewing (or more generally, improving their oral posture), do not do it right. This is evidenced by Krollic's post: /community/community/main-forum/please-make-absolutely-sure-that-you-are-mewing-properly-because-you-may-be-wasting-your-time-and-progress-a-warning-from-me/#post-7132
Furthermore, orthotropics is still a young field, and its foray into adult treatment has only just begun.
Heck... you can move it right now with a few things from Walmart... http://jawpain-tmjtreatment.com/ But if you look at the results... you'll see that the eyes shrunk down and the result was asymmetrical for that first guy. So... I'm okay with Mewing if the risks are known, discussed and accepted. Some people have super melting faces. Here's a question for you to think about...
Do you think that if Dr. John Mew who coined orthotropics, who wanted to move his face up, who did all this research and started this movement, could move his face up - would he?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_OBfpdortE
It is difficult to answer your question, and I don't think that the answer is obvious. For one, it is possible that John Mew has been mewing; I really don't know. If he hasn't been, then it's also possible that at his age, he simply doesn't wish to put in the effort on his own body. It's also feasible that John Mew and his son, Mike Mew have disagreements between what is possible.
I'm really pulling all of this out of nowhere, because I don't know the answer to your question.
Personally, the way I see things is this: young children have a huge advantage over adults when it comes to mewing/correcting oral posture, since they have growth on their side. However, bone remodeling happens throughout a person's adult life. For this reason, it is not illogical to assume that if a person with a previously poor oral posture were to adopt a correct oral posture, their facial bones would be affected. After all, the average person swallows several times per minute, and if I recall correctly, a proper against-the-palate swallow emits about 10 pounds of force (correct me if I'm wrong). That is 10 pounds of force emitted in a upward-and-forward direction, against the maxilla, every several seconds, 24/7, day-after-day. My conclusion is that after years of this, the process must remodel the maxilla and other facial bones in the direction of the swallow - even if the difference is slight.
A metaphor springs to my mind: a small stream of water, even though not a powerful force, will over years and years erode rock, which is much harder than human bone.
The question for me is not so much whether mewing can remodel bones over a period of time, but rather, how many years it takes so see significant results.
24 years old
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