Teeth are one of the first things people notice when they see a picture of someone smiling with their mouth open. Achieving a natural look in a posed photograph can be difficult. But, there are ways to create a natural grin that you feel confident in. Below are five top tips for achieving a more natural smile in pictures. 

Photo, Joel Mott.

1. Be Confident in Your Smile

Learning to be confident in your smile can be hard. Maybe you weren’t able to get braces when you were a child. Or you are searching for the right location to get a cosmetic procedure done to fix insecurity in your teeth. The dentists located in Los Algodones, Mexico offer a variety of dental services to help their patients achieve a happy and healthy smile. For those living in the south of the country, this dentistry is only a short drive from the United States. If you are in Australia, you might want to consider porcelain veneers Mornington to have this procedure done.

Taking care of your teeth is one of the easiest ways to help you embrace your grin and to maintain oral hygiene. You can be confident in your smile without having perfect teeth, but there is nothing wrong with consulting a dentist if there is a procedure you think will improve your quality of life. 

2. Relax Your Face and Jaw Muscles

Relaxing your face and jaw muscles helps to release any tension stored in your face from stress. The most noticeable muscle that contributes to your smile is the zygomaticus major, which sits between the corners of your lips and the upper section of your cheeks. 
When you are tense, these muscles will be noticeably taut around the sides of your face. And this leaves you looking upset or stressed out in the picture. 

Photo, Jonathan Borba.

3. Try Mouth Exercises

This might sound silly, but mouth exercises can help you improve your smile. Working out the key facial muscles used can help you change your smile. Also build up your confidence when having your picture taken. Mouth exercises can help you better express the emotions you feel. 

One exercise that helps to widen the smile is aptly named The Wide Smile. To practice, all you do is smile as widely as you can with your lips open and also hold it for a minimum of 15 seconds. Then repeat it about 10 times. If you consistently practice every day, you will notice how quickly your grin will naturally grow. 

4. Take a Deep Breath While You Smile

Taking a deep breath before posing for a picture can do wonders beyond just capturing a beautiful moment. It’s a simple yet powerful technique that can help you quickly alleviate any feelings of stress or tension that may have built up in your face without even realizing it. By taking that moment to inhale deeply, you’re giving yourself a chance to release any pent-up tension, allowing your facial muscles to relax and soften.

This conscious breath can significantly impact the quality of your smile. Often, when we’re feeling stressed or not quite in the mood for a photo, it reflects in the way we smile – it can appear forced or insincere. By pausing to take a deep breath, you create a space for yourself to reset, to let go of any negative feelings, and to genuinely connect with the joy of the moment. As a result, when the camera captures your smile, it’s more likely to radiate authenticity and warmth, enhancing the overall quality of the photograph.

A brief moment of mindfulness allows you to fully immerse yourself in the present moment, savouring the experience and creating a lasting memory. It’s not just about the photo itself but also about the feeling associated with it – the laughter, the camaraderie, or the beauty of the surroundings. By taking that deep breath, you’re granting yourself a moment of presence and appreciation, enriching the overall experience and imbuing your smile with genuine joy.

So, next time you’re about to pose for a picture, remember the power of the deep breath. And if you’re in Warrington, don’t forget to visit your local dentist Warrington for regular check-ups to ensure your smile stays as radiant and healthy as ever.

Photo, Dylan Posso.

5. Think About Something That Makes You Happy

Thinking about something that makes you happy triggers a smile cue. This will help it appear to be more sincere and can associate the movement with these happy thoughts, making it easier in the future to present a more genuine grin.

Thinking of a happy memory can also increase your mood. Not only does the look appear to be more genuine, but it could also become genuine if what you’re thinking about naturally brings a smile to your face. Laughing can also help. Consider asking whoever is taking the photograph to tell a joke or make a funny face to capture your reaction. 

Keep Smiling

If you want to have a natural smile you feel confident in, it doesn’t hurt to work on it. So, once you have found the grin that you love, don’t ever stop beaming.