Does mewing really work for a sharper jawline?
There is no clinical evidence that mewing improves the jawline in adults. Serious tongue-exercise therapy does exist, but is intended for functional problems such as abnormal swallowing, not for cosmetic purposes.
Mewing is the deliberate pressing of the tongue against the palate at rest, with the aim of achieving a sharper jawline. That idea is not entirely without basis: there are indications that a chronically low tongue posture and mouth breathing, through constant pressure on jaw and gum structures, can contribute to misaligned teeth and jaw deformities. But those indications come from limited and difficult-to-measure research. A directly measured effect of conscious tongue placement on the jawline in adults has not been demonstrated in the available studies.
The broader idea behind mewing, namely that an open-mouth posture and low chewing force cause the face to grow downward, comes from a single author who calls this 'craniofacial dystrophy'. No clinical research has tested this proposal. It is a theoretical model, not a proven mechanism.
What the research does show: tongue pressure and lip force clearly decline with age. An observational study compared healthy older adults (average age 67) with young adults (average age 22) and found significantly lower tongue and lip strength in the older group, accompanied by poorer chewing and swallowing function. This indicates that the oral muscles age, but it says nothing about whether that decline can be reversed with mewing.
There is serious therapy that targets tongue posture and the oral muscles: orofacial myofunctional therapy. That therapy, combined with physiotherapy for neck posture, improved tongue, lip and cheek function in young people with an abnormal swallowing pattern. This is, however, swallowing rehabilitation for people with a demonstrated functional problem, not a cosmetic treatment of the jawline. Do not compare it with what mewing advocates promise online.
Four sources: two on the relationship between tongue posture and jaw structure (limited evidence), one theoretical model without clinical testing, one observational study on ageing of the oral muscles, and one not further indexed study on combined tongue therapy in young people. No randomised studies on mewing as a cosmetic intervention.
Does oil pulling (rinsing your mouth with oil) actually work?
Oil pulling has preliminary indications of a modest effect on gums and plaque, but the evidence is still too weak to recommend it as a full alternative to chlorhexidine. As a supplement to brushing and flossing it is probably not harmful, but do not expect miracles.
What actually helps with chronic low back pain?
Strength and stabilisation exercises have the strongest evidence base for chronic low back pain; if the effect is insufficient, anti-inflammatory drugs are the first pharmacological step, but opioids and surgery can almost always be avoided.
Does collagen help your joints and your skin?
For joint pain due to knee osteoarthritis and for active athletes, collagen is worth trying: 10 grams of collagen peptides per day for 6 months, preferably in combination with exercise. For the skin, 2.5 to 5 grams per day is recommended, but some of the research comes from manufacturers.
How do I keep my eyes healthy and prevent cataracts or macular degeneration?
Protect your eyes with UV-filtering glasses, a diet rich in vegetables and fruit, good diabetes management and regular eye check-ups. If cataracts have advanced significantly, surgery is the only proven solution.
Do I live longer with more social contact?
More social contact is associated with a longer lifespan, but the effect is far more specific than you might think: the type of contact and your sex make a difference, and quality counts more than quantity.
Will I live longer if I have a sense of purpose in life?
A strong sense of purpose in life is associated with a lower risk of premature death, but whether the relationship is also causal is not yet known. Still, there is no reason to avoid cultivating a sense of purpose: the association is consistent and robust.