r/orthotropics

Take the following into consideration before browsing/posting [1 of 4]

Orthotropics is about promoting healthy craniofacial development, which among other things is vital for optimal breathing. It aims to do so first and foremost via natural lifestyle habits: by mewing and chewing. These processes are of most relevance for young individuals, but many adults with underdevelopment can achieve meaningful results as well, especially if they develop a strong tongue that exerts light to moderate pressure against the roof of the mouth by habit.

Take the following into consideration before browsing/posting [2 of 4]

Note that mewing constitutes the resting oral posture and habits (with particular emphasis on the tongue) that humans are believed to develop naturally given that they are raised with ideal environmental circumstances. Dr. Mew, and many others, believe that it is something that humans naturally have done throughout our entire history. Even as of today many modern humans have been mewing their entire lives since infant years. Someone you know in real life is likely a natural mewer.

Take the following into consideration before browsing/posting [3 of 4]

When bone growth is achieved in a mewing process, it is the result of a biological/physiological response to the stimuli that is being provided by the tongue. This is why both jaws and many other parts of the skull tend to grow and change in conjunction with each other during such a process. It is also why growth can take place even when only intermittent pressure is being applied. This makes growth achieved by the tongue very different from growth achieved from devices.

Take the following into consideration before browsing/posting [4 of 4]

The mewing habit exists on a spectrum; while many modern humans engage their tongues enough to stimulate some growth, it rarely reaches near the ideal level. At the bottom of the spectrum are chronic mouth breathers, while the top features those whose tongues remain fully engaged against the entire roof of the mouth during every moment of rest, with a sufficiently developed muscle tone of the tongue. This behaviour is indicative of a natural mewer.

Keep posts relevant to Orthotropics and Mewing related matters

This subreddit focuses on people developing the dental arches, jaws, and the skull as a whole via natural means and via low-invasive expansion devices.

This subreddit is not the place to discuss surgery, braces or similar approaches – there are other subreddits for that.

No low effort or low quality posts

Put some effort into your post if you want it to be published. Among other things, do some basic research via existing reddit posts in this subreddit and in r/Mewing, as well as via youtube (we recommend lectures from Dr. Mike Mew).

Regarding before and after image comparisons

Label images as "before" and "after" or write dates for each image. Put before images on the left, after images on the right. Include before and after images taken with the same camera lens, taken in the same way with regards to distance between camera and face, facial expression, head posture, light, and camera angle. Images of your face from the front and the side, and images of your palate, are useful images to include. Lastly, make sure to explain what you have done and for how long.

Do not ask others to review your skull, face, jaws, palatal width, teeth, or tongue

This subreddit is mainly about sharing experiences and discussing specific lifestyles/methods/treatments related to Mewing/Orthotropics. It is not a place to diagnose people.

Your maxilla/upper palate is underdeveloped/narrow if your tongue cannot rest comfortably within the roof of the mouth while simultaneously breathing through your nose, with your mouth closed. This is always the answer to the question: 'Is my maxilla/palate underdeveloped/narrow?'

Always be respectful. If you critique a person's shared results – provide proper analysis

Many people want to believe that no version of mewing can promote growth or change in bone, in teenagers or adults, as they have already set their mind on surgery or other invasive treatments. Others feel the same way because they dislike the concept of having missed out on potential in their life.

If any of this resonates with you, please understand that you need to be respectful if you engage in this subreddit.

Always provide a proper analysis if you critique someone's shared results.

No spreading of misinformation. No encouraging of surgery.

Knowledge of Mewing and Orthotropics is still scarce. As such, many visitors are unfamiliar with these topics. If you make claims that contradict established evidence, your comment may be removed.

Discussions in the subreddit should be focused on what can be done by measures that relate to Orthotropics and mewing. Comments that encourage surgery may be removed if they are deemed inappropriate.

Do not ask what you should do for your underdevelopment

Needless to say, in this subreddit people with underdevelopment will be recommended to mew (with or without added light to moderate pressure mixed in throughout the process) and chew, to improve their state. They may also be recommended to use expansion devices to aid the process (*keep in mind that expansion devices never can mimic what nature can achieve.*)

No posts about specific asymmetry cases unless it is a matter of a before and after comparison

People that have grown up as natural mewers are believed to on average have better symmetry than others, and many people that have transitioned to mewing later in life have noticed improved symmetry. Unless you post something that is of value to the visitors of the subreddit, like a before and after comparison, the subreddit will not accept posts about specific asymmetry cases.

If you want to make a post claiming structural worsening from mewing, keep the following in mind:

It is common to become obsessive about facial aesthetics when embarking on a mewing process. It is also easy to come to faulty conclusions, from fear/anxiety, or from improper image comparisons (see rule 11).

If you claim that any version of mewing (or failed attempts at it) made your structure worse, you need to provide image evidence to support your claim.

To this day (2026-04-02), no one has shared an image comparison showing structural worsening from any kind of mewing attempt.

Take the following into consideration regarding possible challenges and risks with Mewing [1 of 2]

When a person that has grown up as a non-mewer starts seeing growth and/or change as a result of a mewing process, he/she must understand that not everything that takes place during all stages of the process necessarily will be perceived as an improvement. This comment by u/MMorot elaborates further

Take the following into consideration regarding possible challenges and risks with Mewing [2 of 2]

This subreddit encourages people to: A) mew correctly to the best of their ability, B) if they manually apply pressure with their tongue, not do so more intensely or more frequently than their body can tolerate, and C) chew symmetrically and at a rate their body can tolerate.