How to Achieve CCW Rotation: A Guide for Looksmaxxers

Of all the changes looksmaxxers try to make to achieve peak physical attractiveness, CCW rotation is one of the most intense. The idea is that if you have a recessed chin or an overbite, you can rotate your lower jaw counterclockwise (CCW) to push it forward and up to achieve better facial symmetry. Some looksmaxxers claim you can do it with facial exercises like mewing. But is it really possible? We consulted with aesthetics and dental experts to explain CCW rotation, plus how you might attempt to fix it with facial exercises, dentistry, or jaw surgery. We'll also cover the risks and potential benefits of altering your jaw position, and much more.

What is CCW rotation?

CCW rotation is rotating your lower jaw counterclockwise to fix a recessed chin or an overbite. It pushes your jaw higher and more forward on your face, so your face looks more balanced. The only proven way to achieve CCW rotation is with surgery, but some looksmaxxers claim you can do it with mewing and chewing.

Section 1 of 8:

CCW Rotation Explained

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CCW rotation is rotating your jaw counterclockwise to push it forward. The term "CCW rotation" is used by the medical industry and the looksmaxxing community. Both groups define it the same way, but they use different methods to achieve it. For example, medical professionals like your dentist might recommend braces or jaw surgery. During jaw surgery, the surgeon will rotate your lower jaw to position it higher and more forward on your face. Meanwhile, some looksmaxxers claim they can get the same results in 3-6 months with facial exercises like mewing and chewing.
- There's no scientific evidence that mewing, chewing, or other popular looksmaxxing exercises can rotate your jaw. These facial exercises can also cause damaging side effects, like crooked teeth or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. The only proven way to get CCW rotation is with surgery.
- However, if you still want to try them, we explain the safest ways to try to achieve CCW rotation with facial exercises below.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Rorz is an aesthetics and self-improvement coach from Australia. He teaches men how to transform their appearance and reforge their lives through evidence-based looksmaxxing.

Dr. Mike Mew is an orthodontist with over 30 years of clinical experience. He's credited with starting the "mewing" phenomenon, which has helped millions of people.

Nidhi Pai, DDS, is a board certified cosmetic dentist with over 25 years of experience. She emphasizes enhancing her patients' natural beauty and creating holistic solutions beyond fixing teeth.

Section 2 of 8:

How to Get CCW Rotation with Facial Exercises

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1
Mewing Mewing is a facial exercise that some looksmaxxers claim makes your jawline look more defined and pushes your lower jaw forward. To do it, aesthetics and self-improvement coach Rorz says to push your tongue against the roof of your mouth.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Rorz
Aesthetics & Self-Improvement Coach

Expert Interview} Use as much force as you can to press your tongue firmly against your palate and create a suction. At the same time, touch your top and bottom teeth just slightly, and keep your lips closed. Hold this position for at least 2-3 minutes, and repeat as often as you can throughout the day.
- Does it actually work? Mewing can temporarily make your jawline look more defined and help you look more snatched in photos. However, there's no scientific evidence that it produces any permanent results. There are also no scientific studies showing that it helps your lower jaw rotate counterclockwise.
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Chewing According to orthodontist and mewing expert Dr. Mike Mew, chewing a big glob of 5-10 pieces of gum can help strengthen and define your masseter muscles. Masseters are the muscles on the sides of your lower jaw. The more you build them up, Dr. Mew claims, the more your gonial angle will develop.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Dr. Mike Mew
Orthodontist and Mewing Expert

Expert Interview} The gonial angle is the angle in the corner of your jaw. Looksmaxxers believe that the more square this area of your face is, the more masculine you look.
- Caution: It's important to avoid excessive chewing, or you might develop jaw joint problems, warns Dr. Mew. If you experience "any clicks, any pains, or the inability to open [your mouth] wider than [your] middle 3 fingers," he recommends getting your jaw joints professionally assessed. He also says, in that case, you should avoid chewing exercises for now.^{[3]
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  Dr. Mike Mew
  Orthodontist and Mewing Expert
  
  Expert Interview}
- Does it work? There's little scientific evidence to support the claim that chewing gum or hard foods will help you achieve CCW rotation. A 2019 Scientific Reports study suggests that increased mastication (or chewing) could alter the shape of your jaw.^{[4]
  X
  Research source} But it could also cause a lot of stress and soreness in your masseter muscles.

Section 3 of 8:

How to Get CCW Rotation with Dentistry

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Straighten your teeth with braces. Cosmetic dentist Nidhi Pai, DDS, says that sometimes you can fix a recessed chin by straightening your teeth.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Nidhi Pai, DDS
Cosmetic Dentist

Expert Interview} If you have a crooked smile or an overbite, visit a dentist and have your teeth assessed for braces. You can also ask your dentist about Invisalign: a clear, retainer-like aligner that's much less invasive than regular braces.
- Average cost of braces: $5,000-$9,000^{[6]
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- Average cost of clear aligners (Invisalign): $5,108^{[7]
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- Does it work? Straightening your teeth can help correct a recessed chin if you have an overbite. It works best if you can catch it while you're in your teens, when your skull hasn't finished growing yet. Severe jaw recession (retrognathia) can usually only be fixed by surgery, especially if you're a fully-developed adult.^{[8]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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- Note: Dr. Pai recommends seeing a dentist and fixing your teeth before getting any kind of jaw surgery. "If you go for a surgery without fixing your teeth… you're just camouflaging the problem," she says.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Nidhi Pai, DDS
  Cosmetic Dentist
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 4 of 8:

How to Get CCW Rotation with Jaw Surgery

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Talk to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon about CCW rotation. Before committing to surgery, though, consider whether it's elective or corrective. If it's elective, Rorz explains, you're choosing to do it purely for cosmetic reasons, and in that case, the risks may outweigh the benefits. If you're doing it to correct your jaw shape, and there's no other method (i.e., dentistry) that will fix it, that's more of a no-brainer, he says.^{[10]
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Rorz
Aesthetics & Self-Improvement Coach

Expert Interview}
- Recovery time: up to 12 weeks^{[11]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
  Go to source}
- Average cost: $10,000-$40,000^{[12]
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- Does it work? Yes, jaw surgery can successfully rotate your jaw counterclockwise. Make sure you choose a competent and experienced surgeon.

Section 5 of 8:

Is CCW rotation safe?

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When you mew all the time, you risk putting too much stress on your tongue and other facial muscles, causing pain and discomfort. Similarly, chewing tough foods too often can overwork your jaw, lead to joint pain, and possibly even move your teeth out of alignment. Lastly, with any kind of jaw surgery, there's always a risk of infection, loss of feeling, and joint pain. There's also a possibility that you simply won't like the results. But there's no going back once your jaw has been surgically repositioned.^{[13]
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Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}

Section 6 of 8:

CCW Rotation Potential Benefits

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You might breathe better, have more facial symmetry, and have better teeth alignment. Rotating your jaw counterclockwise can expand your nasal passages and make it easier for you to breathe. It can even treat sleep apnea. Furthermore, by pulling your chin forward, CCW rotation can create better balance and symmetry between your jaw and the upper ⅔ of your face. Finally, changing the position of your lower jaw can align your top and bottom teeth, so you no longer have an overbite. Here are some other potential benefits from a CCW rotation:^{[14]
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Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- May help you become more efficient at chewing and swallowing
- May make it easier for you to speak clearly and articulate sounds
- May help you close your lips all the way
- May protect your teeth from wearing out from grinding
- May ease TMJ disorder pain

Section 7 of 8:

CCW vs CW Rotation

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Whereas a CCW rotation fixes a recessed chin, a CW rotation fixes a chin that sticks out too far. It rotates the lower jaw clockwise and backward, so the chin is more aligned with the rest of the face.^{[15]
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Section 8 of 8:

Should you get CCW rotation for your jaw?

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If you have a recessed chin and think you would benefit from CCW rotation, the best place to start is your dentist's office. They can examine your teeth and recommend a treatment plan if they believe orthodontics will resolve most of your issues. If you have severe retrognathia, they might refer you to an oral and maxillofacial specialist to discuss jaw surgery. Avoid facial exercises like mewing and chewing to change your jaw position, since there isn't enough scientific evidence to back them up.