Mewing is as popular as it is today because of its accessibility. But not everyone can mew successfully. Braces can get in the way of and sometimes counteract mewing.
You can mew with braces as long as your braces are moving your teeth forward and the braces do not get in the way of proper oral posture. However, whether or not this will be effective is a different topic entirely.
Make sure you exercise all the rules of good mewing like proper swallowing, putting your tongue properly on your palate, closing your mouth, and all the other requirements. Braces, for the most part, will not get in the way of that. However, you shouldn’t mew with braces if they’re pulling your upper teeth backward. This is because you’ll be counteracting the action of the braces with your tongue.
Braces, as an orthodontic device, try to correct the teeth’ position by manipulating the teeth and the dental arch. Though mewing and braces both give the desired result of better teeth, they can sometimes counteract each other.
Types of Braces
Before anything else, we have to talk about the different types of braces. A discussion on this is important because you need to understand how obstructive certain types of braces can be for mewing.
Metal Braces
This type is probably the one that you know most about. And chances are, you’ve also probably had braces when you were younger. Metal braces make use of metal brackets and wires to help the teeth move in the proper direction.
The treatment period varies for different people. It all depends on how complicated your case is and how far away you are from getting straight teeth. Metal braces are the cheapest option for braces available, so they’re very popular. Of course, even though it’s the cheapest option on the list, braces still cost a decent amount.
A major con to metal braces is that they look very cumbersome and are generally unattractive. If you are conscious about your look with braces, this is not the choice for you. They can also get pretty difficult to clean with all the brackets and the wires getting in the way. However, they shouldn’t impede mewing.
Self-Ligating Braces
Self-litigating braces are very similar to traditional metal braces. The only major difference is that instead of elastics like in traditional braces, the self-ligating ones use clips.
They operate the same as metal braces but are more expensive. They are supposed to be better than traditional braces by shortening the treatment time and lessening the trips to the dentist. However, it’s limited in the kind of teeth problems it can fix.
Ceramic Braces
Like the first two types, ceramic braces also sport the signature brackets and wires look. One major plus for ceramic braces is that they are colored to match the patient’s teeth, and even the wires can be colored as well. Apart from that, they also make the entire treatment process go faster than a traditional metal system can achieve.
However, the price point is quite higher than with traditional braces. Plus, if you’re not careful about what you eat and drink, or if you don’t clean them properly, the ceramic brackets could stain.
Lingual Braces
Out of the other options listed above, lingual braces are perhaps the most different. Instead of being on the front of the teeth like a traditional set, lingual braces lie behind the teeth. This placement effectively hides the appliance from sight, which is great if you are conscious about wearing braces.
But, there are some downsides to these braces. It’s not meant for very complex teeth problems and is only appropriate for minor issues. Another is that lingual braces are more expensive than traditional braces, even though they do virtually the same thing. These braces can also get uncomfortable since they are behind the teeth, where your tongue can touch them. For people with narrow palates, these types of braces will make it difficult to mew.
Invisalign
Invisalign is the outlier of all the braces systems. Instead of brackets and wires, Invisalign is a clear covering for your teeth. The entire process of using Invisalign will require the patient to wear a set of transparent trays for the teeth.
The main benefit of these is that they are clear, and not as bulky and visible as the rest of the choices. They also give more freedom with cleaning because the trays are removable. That said, the patient cannot eat or drink anything apart from water while wearing the trays. Food or drinks can stain the appliance and make it difficult to clean.
Invisalign can get pretty expensive while doing the same job as traditional braces. Like lingual braces, Invisalign cannot do much about major issues, and most situations that the appliance can fix are minor.
Mewing With Braces
Out of all the different braces, lingual braces are probably the only ones you will have the most trouble mewing with. Because they are in the back portion of your teeth, your tongue will continuously bump into them, affecting your mewing. But that isn’t to say that it’s impossible.
Invisalign might be semi-challenging, especially if you have a narrow palate, but ultimately you should not be touching on your Invisalign trays if you are mewing correctly.
With all the rest, you should be able to mew just fine. But the greatest issue about mewing with braces is that your braces could be pushing your teeth inward. This issue is problematic because the entire idea of mewing is that it expands your palate while bringing the maxilla forward. You cannot guarantee that your braces want to do the same thing.
Ask your doctor if your front teeth are being moved backward or forwards. If they’re being moved backward, this is counterproductive as well as a potential disaster. At this point, you should get a second opinion. Forward growth should be the goal of all orthodontics, making more room in your mouth and not less. Otherwise, you might bring on even more facial recession in the future.
If your braces are counteracting the force of your tongue, you won’t get results. However, if you’re working with your braces to move your teeth forward, then your results will be great. Many people have mewed with braces, and they ended up with great, if not excellent, results.
Should You Mew With Braces?
Whether it is advisable or not for you to mew with braces is not a question that has a solid answer. The best choice would still be to consult your dentist to see if you can mew or not. Given that, proper oral posture still has many other health benefits that can improve your overall quality of life. Remember that proper oral posture should be your natural state. It’s not a “technique,” nor is it unnatural. When in doubt, just avoid pressing very hard.
All over the internet, people on forums and websites talk about their success in mewing with braces. For many, it has worked well. For others, not so much. Your results with mewing while wearing braces could be entirely different.
You can assess first what the underlying problem of your teeth is that made you get braces. Once you understand this, you can think about whether or not focusing on mewing will be productive. Again, the best opinion is from your dentist, who knows your dental history and what the braces are for.
You don’t want to spend all that money on braces trying to fix your teeth only for it to not work because of mewing. While it is possible that mewing and braces can work together, or even complement each other, it’s not a one size fits all kind of situation. What is most important is the reason behind the braces and the underlying orthodontic problems. You will have to know that before you can render your verdict.
Tips for Mewing With Braces
Generally, even with braces, mewing should not be too difficult. Like all others who mew, the biggest hurdle you will have to get through is committing to it.
Consult With Your Dentist
Before anything else, you have to talk to your dentist about what your underlying problems are. Once you know this, you’ll know how to proceed with mewing.
Practice
Though braces won’t be that obstructive, you will still need to get used to them. Hold off on mewing if your braces are still uncomfortable. To mew effectively, you’ll have to get used to the feeling of having braces.
Do It Constantly
Braces won’t change the fact that mewing takes a lot of time to show results. Much like every other person who mews, you’ll have to spend time and effort doing it constantly until it becomes second nature.
