Hmm...just a guess: to show his teeth, he'd have to be smiling or snarling. Snarling's usually inappropriate and smiling isn't in his character so...there.

lol... haven't really noticed but i reckon it's a british thing, we're all raised to keep a stiff upper lip and it's hard to shake a life long habbit.

lol... i see. just find it quite interesting that's why. even in public he never smiles with his pearly whites... works for him though(i think). lol. thanks!

maybe he thinks he has bad teeth or something lol.

probably becuase his character hosue doesnt smile.

Back until 1995 or so he had his original teeth, which were a bit crooked, but he was adorably cute! So maybe he hasn't got used to having great teeth yet!

xDDDDDDDDDDDD

I find this discussion very unconfortable xD

Lol yeah it's his character I don't think he could get highly amused that easily so he smirks more than smiles. I thought you meant when he's talking and I was going to say cause maybe to do an American accent you have to be all stiff or something :p. But I haven't really noticed.

I just rewatched Ep1 Season 2 (the one with the deathrow inmate) and there is quite a bit of tooth-showing when House gets drunk. By the way forget the stiff-upper lip thing about the Brits - they smile just like everybody else. Hugh is very teethy when he plays George in Blackadder - i think it's just that House does not smile that often.

i found this on google.ie. i searched for images of 'hugh laurie smiling'
link
link

ooh and when hes in the wheelchair, when he skids and slams into his car, he grins.laughs...

maybe he hates his smile

i hate my teeth and i look like i have little fangs at the side, so i always smile with my mouth closed, it feels unatural for me to smile with my mouth open thgh, mb he's just self conscious 'bout his smile, but still i LOVE his smile!!!

I also remember him smiling in Saviors, at the ending montage. I'm trying to find a screencap right now.

Not from Saviors, but I found link.

I couldn't find the screencap from Saviors. Sorry.

Some people just don't like to smile showing their teeth. I have straight and nice looking teeth, but I never show mine when I smile. Some people just don't like the way their smile looks when they show their teeth.