Professor John Mew, the British orthodontist who invented the viral facial technique known as "mewing," has died at age 96.
Mew died in his castle on 25 June 2025, aged 96. His death was confirmed by Orthotropics.com, which described him as "a visionary and tireless advocate for better health."
John R. C. Mew was born on 7 September 1928 and graduated with a degree in dentistry in 1953 from University College London. But unlike other orthodontists, Mew became critical of traditional dental practices that focused only on straightening teeth.
Instead, he developed something called "orthotropics" - a method that claimed proper tongue posture could improve facial structure. The technique involves "maintaining correct tongue posture against the roof of the mouth" and became known as "mewing."
What started as a controversial dental theory became a massive internet trend. The technique has amassed over 30 billion views on TikTok and became so popular that kids reportedly use it in school to avoid answering questions from teachers.
The practice exploded on social media platforms around 2019 and has been embraced by various online communities.
Mew's theories put him at odds with mainstream orthodontics. He was honoured with life membership of the British Dental Association in 1999.
Beyond dentistry, Mew lived a remarkably varied life. Between 1957 and 1967, Mew was involved in motor racing, initially in Formula Three and later moving to Formula One. In 1963, he twice broke the Formula One club circuit record at Brands Hatch. He was also "a WWII dispatch rider, Formula 1 test driver, downhill skier, America's Cup sailor, anthropologist, and author."
While mewing gained millions of followers online, the scientific community remains divided. Most orthodontists don't view it as a proven treatment, and there's limited scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness.
However, Mew's impact on popular culture is undeniable. His ideas reached people worldwide and started conversations about alternative approaches to dental health and facial development.