Let’s get real about something many of us are after—a tighter jawline. You know, that snatched look that makes your profile pop and gives you that youthful vibe without going under the knife. I mean, who wouldn’t want that, right? I’ve been there, and if you’ve followed my journey, you might remember a video I did about mouth taping and other natural methods to improve your jawline.
Well, today I’m here to talk about the major, very expensive mistake I made, which cost me a lot more than I bargained for. And if you were one of the many people who watched or listened to that episode, this update is for you.
The Journey to a Tighter Jawline
A couple of years ago, I dove into the world of mouth taping to help with my dental health issues. I was constantly getting cavities and root canals despite being obsessive about my oral hygiene—brushing, flossing, the whole nine yards. My dentist suggested that my issues might be due to mouth breathing, so I started mouth taping to train myself to keep my mouth closed while sleeping. The results were positive; I felt better, and my dental issues improved. Naturally, I wanted to take it a step further, so I explored other techniques like mewing, which supposedly helps define your jawline by positioning your tongue on the roof of your mouth.
What Went Wrong with Mewing
Mewing might sound straightforward—keep your teeth lightly touching, tongue on the roof of your mouth, and suck out the saliva—but I didn’t do it quite right. I found myself separating my teeth instead of keeping them lightly touching, and this led me to unknowingly develop a bad habit of sucking my cheeks in, even while I was sleeping. Over time, this habit caused my cheeks to form a ridge inside my mouth from constant biting, almost like calluses, and it was super painful.
Imagine biting your cheek over and over again, so much so that it never really heals. That was me. I ended up needing oral surgery to remove the built-up tissue, and because I hadn’t kicked the habit, the problem came back with a vengeance. So, I tried using a dental guard, but even with that, I was still able to suck in my cheeks and keep up the damaging cycle. I’m talking thousands of dollars spent, pain, stitches—just a complete mess. This was not worth trying to achieve a tighter jawline this way.
Lessons Learned from My Jawline Journey
1. Not Everything Needs to Be Done All Day Long
The first lesson I learned is that mewing all day, every day, just isn’t necessary—especially if you’re not doing it right. For me, it’s now something I might do briefly if I want a more defined look in a photo, but it’s not something I incorporate into my daily routine anymore.
2. Balance Between Tighter Jawline Natural Remedies and Professional Help
I’m all for natural solutions, but there’s a line where professional advice is crucial. After my experience, I’ve realized it’s important to seek help when things go wrong. I ended up needing oral surgery, which wasn’t fun or cheap, but it was necessary to fix the issue that my bad habits had created.
3. Know When to Stop
Sometimes, you’ve just got to stop. If something feels off, it probably is. I should have listened to my body and recognized that my nighttime habits were causing harm. Instead, I pushed through, thinking I was still on the right track, when really, I was just making things worse.
What I’m Still Doing for a Tighter Jawline
Even after all that, there are still a few habits I maintain because they’ve shown real benefits without the downsides. I still:
- Sleep with My Mouth Closed: Occasionally, I’ll use mouth tape if I feel I’m slipping back into old habits.
- Do Gentle Lymphatic Massage: Using castor oil, I perform gentle lymphatic massages on my face to help reduce puffiness and keep things looking tight. Just use your knuckles to massage from your chin back to your ears and down your neck—nothing too aggressive, just enough to get things moving.
- Focus on Diet and Reducing Inflammation: I noticed a huge difference when I cut out alcohol and foods I’m sensitive to, like quinoa and certain melons. Reducing inflammation has had a bigger impact on my appearance than any mewing technique ever did.
Moving Forward
Looking back, if there’s one thing I could undo, it would be diving into mewing without fully understanding it. But that’s life, right? You live, you learn, and hopefully, you share those lessons with others so they don’t make the same mistakes. So if you’ve been following the advice from that old video, and it’s working for you, great. But if you’re struggling, it might be time to reassess.
Sometimes the simplest habits—like keeping your mouth closed, watching your diet, and even considering professional options—can make the biggest difference.
As always, thank you for being here and for learning with me. If you’ve got your own story or experience with these techniques, I’d love to hear it. And remember, you don’t need to follow every trend to achieve the results you want. Listen to your body, trust your gut, and don’t be afraid to make changes when something isn’t working.
