Teen boys use gum, trainers, ‘mewing’ in hope of defined jawlines

Having a well-defined jawline has become an aesthetic obsession for some boys online — and a wellspring of products and techniques have claimed to help.

Having a well-defined jawline has become an aesthetic obsession for some teen boys online — and a wellspring of products and unstudied techniques have arrived claiming to help them achieve the coveted look.

Products like silicone “jaw trainers,” meant to be gnawed on in 10-minute intervals, and “facial fitness” gum haven’t been scientifically studied on a wide scale, and many dental professionals have expressed skepticism about the exaggerated changes in jaw shape advertised online. But that hasn’t stopped videos of people testing out the trainers from drawing in millions of views online. 

Similarly, techniques like “mewing,” an oral posture technique that involves pressing one’s tongue against the roof of the mouth with the aim of changing the shape of the jawline, also lack robust scientific assessment. Still, #mewing has been the subject of hundreds of thousands of videos on TikTok and YouTube — and the r/mewing community on Reddit consists of more than 60,000 members.

Anton Perl, co-founder and CEO of the popular facial gum and jaw trainer brand Jawliner, said the company was inspired to develop facial fitness gum after seeing the success of its silicone jaw trainer, which exploded in popularity within the male beauty scene. “That was like the dream,” he said.

Jawliner’s two-month gum supply pack costs $41.99 at full price, provoking sticker shock for many people used to buying gum at a convenience store checkout. Perl said that’s because his product contains 10 times more mass than a typical stick of gum. He added that he does not recommend the gum for anyone with pre-existing jaw problems.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/mewing-jawline-trainer-gum-buy-rcna158603

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