John Mew
John R. C. Mew | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | June 25, 2025 (aged 96) |
| Occupation | Orthodontist |
| Known for | Orthotropics, Mewing |
John R. C. Mew (7 September 1928 – 25 June 2025) was a British orthodontist who pioneered the concepts of orthotropics and mewing. Orthotropics focuses on training oral posture to influence facial development, though it remains outside the acceptance of conventional orthodontic practice.
Early life and career
Born on 7 September 1928, John R. C. Mew commenced his education at University College London in 1948 and earned his dentistry qualification in 1953. He then specialized in orthognathic surgery at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, completing this advanced training by 1956. In 1971, he held the presidency of the Southern Counties Branch of the British Dental Association. Additionally, Mew was appointed professor of orthotropics at the London School of Facial Orthotropics.
Mew also undertook a two-year visiting professorship at Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy located in Timișoara, Romania. His lifelong dedication to dentistry was honored in 1999 when he received life membership from the British Dental Association.
Orthotropics
Orthotropics represents Mew's approach within orthodontics designed to direct facial growth patterns. This method incorporates the use of palatal expanders to widen and advance the maxilla, dietary adjustments, and establishing a myofunctionally correct tongue position. According to Mew, maintaining this tongue posture applies outward pressure that encourages lateral expansion of the upper jaw during childhood growth phases, helping to avoid downward and backward displacement of the maxilla and enabling gradual natural correction of malocclusion.
Unlike mainstream orthodontics—which often attributes malocclusion largely to hereditary factors—Mew emphasized environmental causes as primary contributors. Disturbed by some conventional treatment outcomes, he argued that traditional orthodontic interventions, although effective in aligning teeth, frequently neglected fundamental causes behind dental crowding and could inadvertently impair facial structure. He cautioned that procedures such as tooth extractions, fixed braces combined with elastics, and retractive headgear might negatively affect facial development. In 1958, he introduced The Tropic Premise, suggesting malocclusion is essentially a 'postural deformity' that can be prevented by early correction of oral posture and function.
In pursuit of alternatives to treatments linked with facial retraction, Mew traveled to East Germany in 1968 where he met Rolf Fränkel and became acquainted with the work of Konstantin Buteyko. This experience influenced his creation of Orthotropics alongside the Biobloc system—an approach beginning with palate expansion followed by appliances designed to maintain proper posture. Over three decades, Mew practiced Orthotropics extensively and played a key role in establishing the International Association of Facial Growth Guidance in 1987.
Mewing
The term "Mewing" refers to a self-applied oral posture training technique named after John Mew and his son Michael Gordon Mew. The method is often summarized as "keep your mouth closed and maintain good posture." It gained widespread attention through social media platforms and was featured in mainstream outlets during 2019, including interviews on shows such as This Morning.
Although Mew’s theoretical framework contains some reasonable concepts, there is currently insufficient scientific validation supporting its use as a substitute for orthognathic surgery. Therefore, it is not acknowledged as an established clinical treatment option.
Controversy
Mew's perspectives on the causes and management of malocclusion encountered significant resistance from the established British orthodontic community. He was penalized by the NHS for administering treatment deemed inappropriate; however, he successfully challenged this decision in the High Court in 1987. Lord Justice Murray Stuart-Smith ruled that the imposed limitations were unjustified and awarded legal costs to Mew.
In 2010, the General Dental Council (GDC) issued a formal reprimand to Mew concerning advertisements that contained deceptive assertions. The GDC accused him of disparaging the orthodontic profession and falsely implying that his report had received GDC endorsement. Mew characterized this action as an attempt to suppress his hypotheses and identified himself as a "whistleblower," while not contesting the allegations.
The GDC suspended Mew’s licence in 2017 due to violations involving misleading advertising and breaches of patient confidentiality.
Michael Mew, his son, has argued that his father's theories were subject to unjust treatment by professional bodies. Around 2019, Michael faced expulsion from the British Orthodontic Society for promoting these views but initiated a petition seeking reinstatement. As of June 2024, Michael continues to be registered with the GDC as an orthodontist.
Personal life and death
In 1964, Mew married Josephine Ann Mew (née Rankine), with whom he had three children. Josephine passed away on 18 July 2013 at St Wilfrid's Hospice in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Between 1957 and 1967, Mew actively participated in motor racing, beginning in Formula Three before progressing to Formula One. Notably, in 1963 he broke the Formula One club circuit record at Brands Hatch twice, surpassing times previously held by world champions Jim Clark and John Surtees. Although selected for the British team in the first post-war Americas Cup challenge in 1958, he did not compete. In 1971, he served as crew for John Prentice, captain of the British International 14 dinghy racing team, which secured second place in Annapolis, Maryland. Additionally, Mew achieved second place at an International 14 World Championships anniversary regatta and represented Great Britain in downhill skiing.
From 1993 to 1999, Mew constructed Braylsham Castle, a moated residence located in Sussex that was featured on Channel 4’s Britain’s Best Home programme.
Mew passed away at his castle on 25 June 2025 at the age of 96.