BUFFALO, N.Y. — There's another new trend you might see your child or teenager doing and wonder what it is.
It's called 'mewing' and the claims are that it will help redefine your jawline.
First, we need to know. What is mewing?
According to the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), mewing is "a non-medical term that describes a do-it-yourself facial restructuring method." It's where you put your tongue to the roof of your mouth and swallow to define your chin and jawline. While some say mewing might be appealing, the AAO says they don't not recommend any DIY attempts to move your teeth or align your jaw, as you probably won't get the affect you're trying for.
But DIY dental fixes aren't the only reason kids are doing this new trend. Some teachers and parents say mewing is a way to show others they don't care for what they're saying without having to speak to them, or they don't want to answer questions and silently indicate they're too busy mewing.
One teacher posted a video on TikTok saying, "It's just another way to be dismissive to somebody." She also adds that, "...kids are using it as a way to be disrespectful to their teachers."
Another teacher, who goes by mr_lindsay_sped on TikTok says, "Now kids, particularly teenage boys, are finding a lot of joy using it in the classroom and at home when they don't want to answer a question."
