if you have a relatively normal bite like me you will probably notice that when you press your teeth together the two rows interlock somewhat and make lateral jaw movement a lot more restrictive. when it comes to expanding your IMW with your tongue surely this locking effect would hinder such expansion and limit the amount of effective force the tongue applies upon the innerside of the teeth? this makes me think that a firm bite is something to be avoided and if you're gonna do a closed bite then the pressure between the teeth should be very minimal: pretty much solely to control teeth alignment. maybe a slightly open/no pressure bite is superior?
I think most of us here know about this "rule" but I haven't seen this particular theory discussed much as a potential reason why it should be avoided. most of us talk about avoiding a hard bite for reasons such as TMJ/TMD, deep bite, bony palatal protrusion but not in the respect of limiting expansion
would appreciate your thoughts,
cheers
There's some school of thought about not keeping the jaws together all the time (but also not enough isn't ideal).
I had a few thoughts about what could hinder palate expansion. In myself and seemingly some others here, there can be a rapid expansion from high 30s to mid 40s imw. It's like everything falls in to place (body posture and tongue) to permit that occurring, but then there seems to be a stagnation at 45 imw. What's holding us back? Mew says the "Paleolithic ideal" is high 40s-low 50s, so perhaps we can get there as well. I wonder if part of what's holding us back is the tongue strength. If it's true then a focus on tongue pushups/tongue chewing may be required to get over this hump. I believe that tongue pushups are great at shaping the palate, making it gradually flatter and flatter over time. Additionally, the tongue also becomes stronger. Lastly, bone is said to respond better to intermittent forces. Also, I've started eating in a way that is giving me a big tongue work-out.
I also think that getting the sutures to separate can help with expansion. I believe I can get this to happen with thumb pulling. With hard mewing vs tongue chewing, I can get the suture separation sound or feeling to happen occasionally only with tongue chewing, which seemingly lends to the theory that bone responds to and remodels better to intermittent rather than constant forces.
Anyway, lets get some more theories on what hinders palate expansion when it's on the higher end and what practices may help surmount the plateau.
Remember this pain... and let it activate you.
I never bite down. My teeth naturally have always had a butterfly touch. I believe this is one aspect that helped my palate expand quickly
What is butterfly touch?
30 yo, need to expand palate, move maxilla upward and forward, reduce gonial angle.
barely touching/minimal pressure. as if you were holding a butterfly
I had a few thoughts about what could hinder palate expansion. In myself and seemingly some others here, there can be a rapid expansion from high 30s to mid 40s imw. It's like everything falls in to place (body posture and tongue) to permit that occurring, but then there seems to be a stagnation at 45 imw. What's holding us back? Mew says the "Paleolithic ideal" is high 40s-low 50s, so perhaps we can get there as well. I wonder if part of what's holding us back is the tongue strength. If it's true then a focus on tongue pushups/tongue chewing may be required to get over this hump. I believe that tongue pushups are great at shaping the palate, making it gradually flatter and flatter over time. Additionally, the tongue also becomes stronger. Lastly, bone is said to respond better to intermittent forces. Also, I've started eating in a way that is giving me a big tongue work-out.
Why did the paleolithic man in the sample used by Dr John Mew stop at 53mm? There is a physiological limit to everything; in this case the size of the tongue.
While swallowing, the tongue expandes to its upper limit. The harder one swallow the more it's pressed against the hard palate and the more it reaches that limit. It can go stronger and bigger with more use like any muscle but there is a limit. So theoretically in a child, the upper jaw will expand as much as the tongue physical size will allow.
The lower jaw will follow the upper with chewing and mastication muscles strength.
my story: http://www.aljabri.com/blog/my-story/
@krollic I had a thought on correct closed teeth posture possibly hindering palate expansion. I Mew with teeth gently together and over time I discovered that occasionally I'll feel the need to do a Mew cheesy smile swallow to break what feels like a suction between my cheeks and teeth. Perhaps teeth slightly apart prevents this? The cheesy smile swallow seems to break any suction that I feel is possibly detrimental toward palate expansion. Tbh though, I'm not totally sure if the cheeks being suctioned to teeth hinders palate expansion (seems the force of the tongue would overpower this possible counter-force?), or if the cheesy smile swallow just helps expansion and helping to get an ideal position of the tongue on the palate.
Remember this pain... and let it activate you.
thats what i experience too with a open bite it feels like the tongue is doing all the work
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