Everybody is looking for the right braces colors these days now that you can find dozens of colors available. With more colors comes more options for every taste and preference ranging from a subdued color for a professional setting to a much stand-out braces colors.
As orthodontic treatment demands time and patience, getting your teeth straightened can be fun and enjoyable with colored braces. When you see your teeth are being corrected with the same traditional braces but with a little taste of decorative colors on brackets and rubber bands, it adds to the joy of the treatment to be continued with less attention on metals.
There is even the desire for matching braces colors with your eye color, your outfit, a special occasion or even a sports team you are a fan of. Or less on the stylish side, some people may want to know which colors can make their teeth appear whiter.
In this article, we will explore these common issues and more questions like:
What color braces are there?
How to choose the best braces colors?
What color braces make teeth appear whiter or cause them to look yellow?
Which colors are suitable for adults in the professional workplace?
Or which colors make school time for boys or girls an enjoyable one?
Why do braces have colors and how they work?
Orthodontic braces, or braces just, are a type of fixed orthodontic appliances to treat misalignment and irregularities in teeth and jaws. Braces work by pulling teeth into the alignment that orthodontists have planned for to reach an esthetic position for teeth and get a perfect look. Ceramic braces and plastic braces are two types of braces once developed to fit the needs of those people who were looking for less visibilities of braces because of social views, the notion on how I should look or other personal preferences.
Then came another form of the orthodontic appliance but removable ones called clear aligners, which are shaped similar to mouthguards and are made of transparent plastic.
But the orthodontic industry hasn’t stopped there and provides the same metal braces with various color options for the components that could also be in plastic forms like ligatures and elastic bands. So, each set of braces regardless of color have metal brackets that are cemented on the teeth and the archwire, which connects the brackets together.
There are other parts of braces called ligatures and elastic bands. Ligatures and elastic bands can be made of plastics, so they come with different color options which bear the name ‘colored braces’.
- Elastic ligatures (elastic O-rings):
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Orthodontic elastic ligatures are tiny rubber bands that tie the brackets and the archwire together. They are commonly known as elastic O-rings and used to align the occlusal forces in the right direction. Ligatures can also be in steel forms or can be made self-ligating and therefore no colors could be used in these cases.
Watch the below video to see the differences.
- Chain:
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Orthodontic chains (braces power chains) are connected elastic ligatures. Chain has the same function as elastic ligatures for holding the brackets and the archwire together.
- Elastics (rubber bands):
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Elastics are used as an effective method as intraoral connectors between the anchorage devices of lower or upper jaw or between brackets from lower to upper teeth.
Elastic bands are not used in every treatment with braces. They are mainly used to treat bite problems (e.g., crossbite), jaw deficiencies, and to guide growth modification among children and adolescents in orthodontic treatments. See the below video on how elastics work.
What colors are there for braces?
Nowadays, you can find many braces colors available at the clinic and you are not committed to just a few color options like red or blue. You can choose among the many color shades on the braces color wheel, which normally every orthodontist keeps it around for brace-wearer to choose from.
Whether you need clear or white colors, bright colors or darker color shades, the braces color wheel provides the best ones to make you happy. There is even the choice of color combination which you can ask your orthodontist to tie the elastic around the brackets according to alternating patterns for different teeth or for upper or lower teeth differently.
Some of the braces colors are:
- Brightly neon colors
- Silver color
- Dark metallic colors
- Glow-in-the-dark colors
- And different shades of classic colors
How often can I change colors for my braces?
You can change the colors for your braces every time you visit your orthodontist. Typically, your orthodontist schedule visits every 4-8 weeks for readjusting the braces. During these sessions, you can try another brace color option, so the color should remain on braces until the next appointment.
Not all individuals have the same orthodontic treatment time. Depending on the conditions, some people may have to wear braces for 12 months or 18 months while treatment may take years for others. During this time scale, your orthodontist will schedule visits for readjustments or tightening and to check the amount of progress that has been made.
How to choose the best braces colors?
There are some ideas to help you choose the best colors for your braces. You might want colors that blend in and fit with the tone of your skin, your eye color or even a special event. Colors can express your individuality and you can pick any braces color that you like. You might want color shades that stand out and are eye-catching. Here are some ideas for choosing braces colors:
- Choose darker shades to make your teeth appear whiter.
- For darker skin tones and hair, choose dark blue, violet, orange, pink, turquoise and gold.
- For lighter skin tones and hair, choose dark purple, light blue, bronze, maroon, subdued red and pink.
- Choose colors that complement your eyes.
- Try colors that go perfectly with your clothes or school-themed colors that match with the school uniform.
- Choose silver, grey or clear color if you want a subdued color for a professional setting that you don’t want the colors to stand out.
- Choose colors according to your favorite sports team.
- For special occasions and holidays, you can try your favorite color combinations like red and green or Christmas, Glow-in-the-dark for Halloween, red and white for Valentine or bright colors for April Fool’s Day (Be aware that the colors may not be changed for some weeks or months).
Braces colors you should avoid:
Unless for a special occasion or personal preference, you might want to avoid certain colors like:
- White, which stain easily and make your teeth look yellow
- Black, which may look like your teeth are rotten and may be unprofessional
- Brown or lighter green, which can be mistaken for food leftovers on your teeth and look like stained teeth
- Yellow or gold, which makes your teeth look yellow and sound like stainson your teeth
What braces colors make your teeth whiter?
If you want to make your teeth look whiter, choose darker shades or neutral colors to make a contrast with your teeth like dark blue (navy blue), dark purple or dark green.
What braces colors make your teeth look yellow?
Yellow and white are two colors that make your teeth appear discolored. While white and off-white color options can intensify the yellow-toned teeth, lighter colors like pale yellow, brown or beige make your teeth yellower and gives an image of yellow-looking teeth even form a distance.
Color braces for children and teens
When it comes to color braces, children and teenagers can happily get along with their orthodontics especially when the color is a one used by the other classmates or friends or a color that teenagers may use to express themselves. Whether it is for paying more attention on braces care or staying away from being targeted by peers, color braces are a great encouraging way to make orthodontic treatment a funnier and an enjoyable experience.
In the meantime, you can help your child with more braces’ maintenance and care tips such as daily brushing of teeth and flossing, using mouthguards for protecting braces during sports or other physical activities or even reminding your kid that it is time for visiting the dentist/orthodontist for check-ups.
You can also make clear that children will need to wear retainers after their braces for some time. This is to get the aligned teeth stay fixed in their places.
Websites like paintyoursmile can help you or your child get an idea how color braces will look like.
What are the most popular colors for braces?
Although you can pick up whatever color that looks good on you, the most loved color braces include pink, bule, purple, orange or combinations of these colors.
Blue braces
Blue is a neutral color loved by all age groups from adults to children. It fits well with most colors and is chosen similarly by boys and girls. The light blue is the classic color for braces while the darker blue shines your teeth even greater.
Pink braces
Both girls and boys like the pink color. The fact that girls can easily coordinate pink with their outfit, their lipstick or other accessories make it a top color used mostly by women.
Purple braces
Regardless of age, purple color braces can’t be ignored as it is among the colors tried by many who are looking for whiter-looking teeth. For a dazzling smile, you can combine purple and pink to make your braces and teeth pop.
How about invisible braces (clear aligners)
If you want to go invisible with your braces with no colors, clear aligners can truly fit your needs. Most people may call them clear braces but clear aligners also commonly go by the name Invisalign as it is a major brand in producing them.
Clear aligners are especially beneficial when it comes to esthetics and invisibility, making them an excellent choice for anyone who doesn’t want others to know you are having a treatment like many adults that want something less noticeable.
There are no more metals and archwire but only plastic-made custom-fit trays that you snap on your teeth.
Some key facts about the clear aligners include:
- Aligners are removable which makes brushing and flossing much easier
- Aligners are as effective as traditional braces
- They are made of clear transparent plastics that make them almost invisible and suitable for adults or those who don’t want to draw any attention
- You might have fewer dentist trips since there are no readjustments or tightening just check-ups for your progress or for other issues
- You will have a set of aligner series that are designed to gradually move your teeth instead of one metal braces that is fit on your teeth
- Aligners are mostly used for mild to moderate irregularities in teeth and less often for severe cases, like bite problems
- Faster treatment time especially if worn for the recommended time
- Aligners require around 22 hours wear time but depending on conditions, there are more options like nighttime clear aligners
- Require commitment for wear time and may not be a good option for children
Best aligner alternatives to color braces
Invisalign
Invisalign is one of the major aligner brands around. It is a well-known orthodontic company with a relatively higher price tag. You will get the custom-fit trays after visiting your orthodontist. Depending on the severity of your dental conditions, the Invisalign trays are made to correct the irregularities in teeth.
Cost: between $ 3,000 and $ 7,000. Insurance is covered and there are various payments methods like monthly payment plans
ClearCorrect
Like Invisalign, ClearCorrect is an in-person aligner brand that requires orthodontist/dentist’ visit to receive the custom-fit series of trays that are designed for you treatment.
Cost: the average cost can range from 2,000 to 7,000. The 2,000 price is for limited treatments.
Conclusion
Color braces are fun and professional and add some freshness to dull metal brackets. Whether you are an adult looking for a subdued color or a teen who love a more noticeable option, there is always the right color for you to choose.
And remember that fixed braces have remained as popular as ever for straightening any form of misaligned teeth among young and old orthodontic seekers albeit other invisible options.
Yet you can try less noticeable brace types like ceramic braces or innovative clear aligners which are also top picks and great smile-makeover orthodontic tools.
Keep in mind that orthodontics is not usually covered by insurance, but there are still ways to finance your case. You can look for insurance providers that cover partial costs of your total payment, get payment plans from your dentist directly or try the savings plans from now to make your braces’ purchase convenient.
Frequently asked questions around braces colors
There are plenty of color palettes to choose from and it all comes down to you and your preferences.
To make your teeth whiter, darker shades can bring contrast to your teeth, so dark violet, purple, navy blue, dark green, burgundy and dark green can be great. Black can be an option, too, for teens but be careful teeth might look stained with black. The same is true for pale yellow or brown that either give a discolored teeth look or might look like food leftovers on teeth.
Get pink, orange, green, blue, and metallic shades as they are among popular braces color choices. While silver and grey suit the needs of adults for a subdued color, some options like bright neon colors, gold, and even glow-in-the-dark colors will bring shine on everybody’ look especially younger-age people.
It depends on you and what you actually consider as attractive. Blue, purple or silver and darker shades can work for everyone. As an adult, you might choose them because these colors can be suitable for your workplace. People may also go for white and clear bands to keep the neutral colors on their braces, but these colors can pick stains easily. You might be better off with silver, sky blue or grey.
For an expressive look of both adults and children, pink, red, orange, gold, bronze, green and metallic shades are a real transformer of smile. If you like, alternate colors and use variety of combinations that work for you. Finally, don’t forget to ask your orthodontist for help.
Light pink is one of the cutest colors for braces, but it may pick stain easily. You can combine it with lilac, baby blue and teal, which are also as cute for both boys and girls.
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