Top 10 Viral Jaw and Face Trends, Ranked for UK Readers

How we ranked these trends

Trends are ranked on three questions. How good is the public evidence that the method changes the way the jaw or face looks or works? How safe is it for healthy teeth, joints and muscles when used as described online? And how much oversight does a qualified, regulated person have over the process? Approaches that involve a diagnosis by a dentist, orthodontist or doctor score highest, because someone can check the cause of the concern before anything is tried. This is an editorial ranking based on NHS and professional guidance rather than a survey or a laboratory comparison, and it does not claim that any trend is more popular than another. Results and risks always vary from person to person.

What actually shapes the jaw and the bite

Most of the size and shape of your jaws is set by genetics and by growth during childhood and the teens. Growth is when orthodontists can influence jaw development, for example with functional appliances, which is why timing matters for children. In adults the jaw bone does remodel slowly in response to forces, which is how braces and aligners move teeth, but there is no reliable evidence that tongue posture, chewing or facial exercises reshape the adult skeleton in a visible way. What you see in the mirror is also the result of teeth position, gum and lip support, fat and skin, muscle and lighting. If your concern is a bite that does not meet properly, a crooked smile or a recessed chin, a clinician can tell you whether the cause is in the teeth, the jaws or the soft tissues, which decides what can realistically help.

1. Orthodontic assessment for bite and jaw concerns

The first and best-evidenced step is to have the concern looked at. An orthodontist examines how the teeth and jaws meet, checks the position of the lower jaw, looks at the joints and muscles, and may take photographs, scans or X-rays. That tells you whether the issue is a tooth-position problem that braces or aligners can change, a jaw-position problem that may need a different plan, or a cosmetic preference that treatment will not alter. Treatment can improve how the bite works and, in some cases, how the lower face looks, but it cannot be promised to change facial shape in the way a filter does. Cost depends on the practice, with consultation fees varying, and our cost guides explain typical ranges for treatment. It suits anyone whose main worry is a bite, overjet, underbite or asymmetry. Watch out for any provider who promises a specific change in facial appearance before examining you.

2. Myofunctional therapy as an adjunct

Myofunctional therapy is a set of exercises supervised by a trained professional to retrain the tongue, lips and swallowing pattern. It has a recognised but limited role: it can support orthodontic treatment for people with a tongue thrust, a habit of pushing the tongue against the front teeth, or an open bite, and it can help to stop relapse linked to those habits. The evidence is stronger for this supportive role than for any claim that exercises alone move teeth or change the skeleton. It is usually delivered by speech and language therapists or specially trained dental professionals, and it is commonly used alongside braces or aligners rather than instead of them. Cost varies by therapist. It suits people with an identified habit that is affecting their teeth or speech. Watch out for online courses that promise facial transformation, for programmes with no assessment first, and for anyone who suggests exercises can replace orthodontic treatment.

3. Treating mouth breathing at its cause

Habitual mouth breathing, especially in children, can be linked to blocked noses, enlarged adenoids, allergies or sleep-disordered breathing, and it is sometimes associated with changes in how the face and bite develop. The sensible response to a trend that tells you to close your mouth is to find out why it is open. A GP can look at allergies and nasal obstruction and refer to ear, nose and throat services where needed, and an orthodontist can note the signs of a mouth-breathing pattern during an assessment. Treating a medical cause is safe and may improve sleep and comfort even if it changes nothing in the mirror. Starting with the NHS is free for registered patients. It suits children and adults who breathe through the mouth by day or night, snore or wake with a dry mouth. Watch out for forcing the mouth closed with tape or devices before the cause has been checked.

4. Relaxed tongue posture, or soft mewing

Mewing is the name given online to resting the tongue against the roof of the mouth with the lips together and the teeth lightly touching or slightly apart, sometimes with a deliberate chin position. Relaxed tongue posture is harmless for most people and may be a comfortable habit, and orthodontists do ask patients about tongue position because it matters for some bites. The claim that it reshapes the adult jaw or creates a sharper jawline, however, has no robust clinical evidence behind it, and the strongest versions of the claim are not supported by published research. Photos used as proof often change because of angle, lighting, weight or age. It costs nothing. It suits people curious about a gentle habit who accept that no visible change is guaranteed. Watch out for pushing hard with the tongue, clenching, or pressing the jaw forward, which can cause muscle ache and tooth or joint discomfort, and never use it as a reason to delay a bite assessment for a child.

5. Facial massage and gua sha

Facial massage and gua sha use gentle pressure with the hands or a smooth tool to move the skin and soft tissue. They can temporarily reduce puffiness and make the skin feel firmer or the face feel relaxed, which is why many people enjoy them. They do not change the bone of the jaw or the position of the teeth, and the effect on the skin is short-lived. The risks are low if the pressure is gentle, although firm rubbing can irritate skin, and anyone with inflamed skin, recent injections or a jaw joint problem should avoid pressing on sore areas. Cost is usually low. It suits people who like a skin-care routine and understand that it is cosmetic and temporary. Watch out for rough pressure over the joint in front of the ear, for tools that pull the skin, and for any claim that massage can reposition the jaw bone.

6. Face yoga and facial exercises

Face yoga programmes teach sequences of movements for the muscles of the cheeks, lips and jaw. The research is small, short and often poorly controlled, and it focuses mainly on appearance of the skin and cheeks rather than the jaw bone. Moving facial muscles gently is unlikely to harm most people and can be relaxing, but there is no reliable evidence that it sharpens a jawline or corrects a bite. Overdoing exaggerated chewing or clenching movements can tire the muscles and may aggravate an existing jaw joint problem. Cost ranges from free videos to paid courses. It suits people who enjoy the routine and treat it as relaxation. Watch out for courses that promise a lifted or slimmer face in days, for exercises that make the jaw click or hurt, and for pressing on while you have pain.

7. Hard chewing gum for the jaw

Some trends recommend chewing very hard or resin-style gum for long periods to build the jaw muscles and give a stronger-looking jawline. Muscles can grow with use, but there is no good evidence that this gives a lasting aesthetic change in healthy adults, and chewing for hours a day loads the jaw joint and the muscles of the cheek and temple. Overuse is a recognised cause of aching jaws, headaches and clicking, and the muscle bulk it builds can broaden the lower face rather than sharpen it. People with jaw pain, grinding or clenching are most at risk. Sugar-free gum in moderation is fine for most people, but excessive chewing is not harmless. Cost is low. It suits no one who already has jaw pain. Watch out for chewing for long stretches, for gum containing sugar and for any pain or clicking that appears or worsens.

8. Silicone jaw trainers

Jaw trainers are firm silicone balls or devices that you bite and chew against resistance, sold with promises of a sharper jawline. As with hard gum, the muscles can strengthen, but there is no reliable evidence of the visible effect advertised, and the repeated loading can irritate the temporomandibular joint. The NHS describes jaw joint problems as common causes of pain, clicking and restricted movement, and extra clenching is a typical trigger for symptoms. Teeth can also be damaged if a device is bitten too hard, especially teeth with large fillings, crowns or cracks. People wearing braces should not use them at all because they can break brackets. Cost is modest. It suits very few people. Watch out for devices that cause pain or clicking, for use with braces, and for any programme that tells you to push through jaw discomfort.

9. Mouth taping at night

Mouth taping means sealing the lips with tape during sleep in order to force nose breathing. Supporters claim it improves sleep, reduces snoring and changes the face over time. The research is limited and does not show clear benefit for healthy people, and it carries real risks: if the nose is blocked from a cold or allergy, or if there is sleep apnoea, breathing can be restricted. It should not be used by children, by anyone who has had alcohol or sedatives, or by people with breathing conditions, and skin irritation from adhesive is common. Anyone who snores heavily, stops breathing in sleep or wakes unrefreshed should see a GP rather than trying tape. Cost is low. It suits almost no one without medical advice. Watch out for blocked noses, for sleep apnoea symptoms and for using strong adhesive on delicate skin.

10. Bone smashing and other extreme methods

A small number of online communities promote striking the face with objects, or other extreme and painful methods, in the belief that bone will grow back stronger and more defined. There is no credible evidence this works, and it can cause fractures, nerve damage, bruising, tooth injuries and lasting asymmetry. Extreme diets, dangerous dental filing, and do-it-yourself orthodontic attempts belong in the same category. These methods rank last because the evidence is absent and the risk of permanent harm is high. If you notice a friend or young person following such advice, encourage them to speak to a GP or a trusted adult, and remember that worries about appearance can be a sign of distress that deserves support. Cost is the harm itself. It suits nobody. Watch out for any content that tells you pain means progress, and seek urgent medical help after any facial injury.

When jaw pain, clicking or locking needs a clinician

Jaw joint and muscle problems are common, and the NHS describes symptoms such as pain around the jaw, clicking, difficulty opening, headaches and earache. Many cases settle with self-care such as soft foods, avoiding wide yawning and gum chewing, gentle heat and managing stress, but some need assessment by a dentist or doctor. Jaw trainers, hard gum and forceful tongue pressure can aggravate these problems. Seek advice if your jaw locks, if you cannot open your mouth fully, if there is swelling or a change in your bite, or if pain persists for more than a few weeks. After an injury, see a clinician promptly. Our guides on jaw joints and braces and on grinding explain how orthodontic treatment can be planned around these conditions.

Injectables and cosmetic procedures aimed at the jawline

Alongside the home trends, there are clinic treatments marketed for jawline definition, including dermal filler, and botulinum toxin injected into the chewing muscles. These are medical or cosmetic procedures, not dentistry in the usual sense, and botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. If you are considering any such treatment, check the practitioner's registration with the relevant regulator, such as the GDC for dentists or the medical, nursing or pharmacy regulators for other prescribers, ask about complications and what happens if something goes wrong, and read advertising critically because rules from the Advertising Standards Authority restrict how prescription-only treatments can be promoted. Surgery to reposition the jaws is a separate specialist route involving an orthodontist and a maxillofacial surgeon. We cannot advise on any individual procedure, so discuss options and risks with a registered clinician.

How to fact-check a jaw or face trend

Before you try a trend, ask five questions. Who is making the claim, and what do they sell? Is there a published study, and was it done on people like you rather than on a handful of volunteers or on children during growth? Are before-and-after photos taken at the same angle, in the same light and over a sensible time? What are the risks if it goes wrong, and who would you call? And would a registered clinician recommend it after examining you? If a trend asks you to push through pain, stop breathing normally or avoid professional advice, treat that as a red flag. Our methodology page explains how we choose sources, and the guide on spotting dental influencer advertising explains how to read promotional content.

Key takeaways

The safest first step for a jaw or bite concern is an assessment by a registered clinician, because that finds the cause. Relaxed tongue posture and gentle massage are low risk but have no proven power to reshape an adult jaw, while hard gum, jaw trainers and mouth taping can cause harm for some people. Extreme methods should be avoided entirely. This is general information, not personal medical advice, so speak to a dentist, orthodontist or doctor about your own situation.

Useful related pages

This guide is for general information only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for advice from a registered dentist or orthodontist.