Why do we say “cheese” to smile when taking photographs?

You certainly have already asked yourself this question: where did the custom of saying “say cheese” in front of a camera (or, more likely these days, in front of a cell phone) come from? The answer is very simple: the sound of the word ‘cheese’ helps the mouth to achieve a position where the teeth are shown while the lips open sideways, very similar to a smile. But someone had to make the association between this particular word and the act of taking a picture.

There’s no hard evidence on the matter, but one of the first references dates back to the year 1943, according to Yahoo Finance. The subject was brought up by the local Texas newspaper called The Big Spring Herald in an article titled “Need To Put On A Smile? Here’s How: Say Cheese.”

Former US ambassador to the Soviet Union, Joseph E. Davies, explained that saying cheese always provided you with an automatic smile, no matter what you were thinking.The question then is from whom Mr. Davies learned this trick. He said: “I learned that from a politician (…) An astute politician, a very great politician. But, of course, I cannot tell you who he was…”.

Mr. Davies served under Franklin D. Roosevelt’s term so it’s fair to assume the president told him about the trick – although he never mentioned the president’s name.

Ensure a beautiful smile in every photo

So now you know that saying ‘cheese’ on photographs helps you show a natural smile, but how about ensuring that your smile is as beautiful as it could be? This is where modern dentistry comes in.

Prosthodontists and leaders in cosmetic dentistry in Miami, Dr. Sharp Dentistry team of specialists in the restoration and replacement of teeth is considered today’s architects of dental treatment plans and heralded as the plastic surgeons of dentistry.

The expert team includes a prosthodontist, a maxillofacial prosthodontist, a periodontist, a general dentist, an oral surgeon, an endodontist, an orthodontist, and a full hygienist unit ready to fulfill all your needs as patients.

Dr. Sharp Dentistry and the office’s team of dental professionals have undergone extensive training to excel in their fields, offering top skills and the best technology in the areas of Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Surgery, and Dental Implant Dentistry. From teeth whitening to Invisalign, from clear braces to veneers or to implants, and many other procedures, all delivered under one roof to make your life easier. And to give you the peace of mind to “say cheese” whenever you want.