Mewing Making Overbite Worse


Many people with overbites who mew wonder if they’re actually making their overbite worse. There are no conclusive studies on these findings. So we will look at the underlying processes of mewing to determine and draw a conclusion.

Mewing expands the maxilla and brings it up and forward to give a face a more balanced look. Because of this movement, mewing could make your overbite worse. But you could also be mewing too hard or incorrectly. It’s best to consult with a professional opinion regarding overbites because mewing won’t be enough to fix it.

Mewing can bring many obvious improvements to your face. It can give you better facial aesthetics and balance. It also has numerous health benefits. But mewing still has its limitations. It cannot fix just about every single facial structure problem. And it is no guarantee that it will also fix your overbite.

If the cause of your overbite stems from the fact that you are not exercising proper oral posture, maybe mewing could fix it. This theory is no guarantee. However, there are dental appliances that can help you fix your overbite.

Identifying an Overbite

An overbite happens when the upper row of teeth juts out more than the lower set of teeth. This imbalance creates an overlap between the top and bottom rows. In a lot of people, an overbite is normal. So if your top teeth overlap just a bit over your bottom teeth, it’s not anything to worry about.

However, there are instances when an overbite is prominent and could ruin a person’s facial appearance. This prominent overbite is called a deep overbite.

According to Harfin et al. (2014), the overbite is one of the most common and difficult malocclusions to treat. The authors of the study state that a deep overbite exists in about 5-8% of the population. Other dental problems could also accompany a deep overbite.

Common causes of an overbite include genetics, teeth grinding, and TMD or Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. An overbite could also lead to various complications, including tooth decay, severe headaches, trouble with opening and closing your mouth and sleep apnea. Not to mention, it could drastically affect or change your facial structure resulting in a less attractive face.

Additionally, having a deep overbite could cause you discomfort and pain in the jaw. It could also wear your teeth down. An overbite that is too deep could also cause trauma to your palate and cause some gum problems. Ideally, if you have a deep overbite, you would want to fix it. There are many fixes that a professional can give you, and the best option is different in each situation.

Treating an overbite in children is easier than treating it in adults. But even in adults, treating an overbite does not require complicated processes, unless surgery is your only option. However, in adults, there could be many complications already. In effect, that makes fixing an overbite more complex.

Possible Fixes to an Overbite

You have several options when trying to fix an overbite. Most of them will involve some appliance, and could also involve surgery.

Braces

Braces can fix an overbite by moving the teeth to correct an overbite. I have to emphasize that braces only move the teeth and nothing else. Braces are the most common devices to treat an overbite.

Invisalign

Invisalign clear aligners work in virtually the same way as braces. The appliance moves the teeth in a manner that tries to correct the overbite. However, Invisalign is not as powerful as braces.

Surgery

For overbites caused by bone structure and jaw problems, surgery is the only feasible option.

Teeth Removal

This honestly isn’t a great option, and it’s chosen last by specialists as much as possible. But it is still one way to correct an overbite. Removing some teeth could give the remaining teeth room to move, effectively managing the overbite.

The main reason you want to avoid this is that removing teeth will cause the alveolar bone to resorb, and fewer teeth means less teeth contact, which means less natural pressure on your maxilla and mandible. This can lead to the stereotypical “long face syndrome” and a sunken face that is sometimes common after wearing braces.

It is crucial to remember that you should consult first with your dentist or specialist for any of these choices. In many cases, they are the only ones who can give you access to these appliances. It’s not like you can just walk in a store and get braces that work. These appliances are custom made to fit your teeth and fix your overbite.

Mandibular Advancement Devices

A mandibular advancement device (MAD) is also another option to fix your overbite. The device is primarily to prevent and correct sleep apnea. But it can also help fix an overbite.

Mandibular Advancement Devices

The device works by bringing the mandible or lower jaw forward to assist in preventing sleep apnea. And because an overbite consists of the lower set of teeth being too behind the upper set, this could potentially fix an overbite.

The MAD forces the lower jaw forward, altering the position of the jaw and tongue. In effect, this prevents the collapse of the airway, which will then help prevent sleep apnea.

There are different options when it comes to mandibular advancement devices. There are custom, semi-custom, and boil and bite versions. These options also vary in accessibility and price. For a more comprehensive guide on what MADs are, you can check out our guide here.

Mewing With an Overbite

As said before in the article, some people who mewed with an overbite found their overbites to be worse than before. These results can be because mewing actually expands and pushes your maxilla forward while doing little for the lower jaw.

Take a look at this illustration of how mewing is supposed to work.

Mewing Effects

As seen, mewing moves the lower jaw but not in a way that would impact an overbite. The truth is that mewing is just not the answer to all your facial problems.

It’s also different as a child versus as an adult. Kids are guiding their facial bone growth when they mew, which could have the potential to fix an overbite. But even still, it’s better for kids with overbites to get medical treatment. On the other hand, adults are attempting to jam their maxilla forward with their tongue, and bone remodeling as an adult can only get you so far.

However, the question remains about whether you should mew with an overbite or not. You definitely can. As long as you do it properly, you will be fine.

But as for the overbite, the best course of action would be to go to your dentist or specialist who can assist you with your overbite. There are more effective options out there than mewing.

Mewing with an overbite can be successful if you do so with the right dental help. If you mew with an overbite, mewing correctly is even more important. Mewing incorrectly and not applying the proper posture could eventually lead to more trouble for you. For the best results, you should make sure that you are mewing correctly.

Check out our ultimate guide and top mewing mistakes to hone your mewing technique.

Conclusion

So, mewing with an overbite could carry a certain amount of risk for you. You could make it worse as other users have, or there’s a small chance you might make it better.

The eventual results of that lie in the proper management of your treatments. Doing mewing with another dental procedure is your best bet since you are not just relying on mewing to fix your overbite. You should take caution when trying to fix your overbite and always consult with a specialist.

If you find that mewing is making your overbite worse, you should immediately stop and check with your dentist or orthodontist. They will then be able to advise you on the best way forward.

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