Blue Braces: How To Pick the Right Colors for Your Braces (And Make Your Teeth Look Whiter!)
So, you’ve decided to take the leap and get braces? Congratulations! Getting a straight, confident smile is a huge step. Now that the hard part is over (making the decision!), you get to move on to the fun part: picking your colors.
If you are getting traditional metal braces, you are going to be wearing them for a while—usually 18 to 24 months. But don’t worry, you aren’t stuck with one color for the whole ride! At Blue Ridge Orthodontics, we change out your bands at every single adjustment appointment (every 4-6 weeks). That means you get to constantly switch up your style.
Whether you want to rep your high school in Asheville, coordinate with your Halloween costume, or just make your teeth look as bright as possible, our team has put together the ultimate guide on how to choose the best braces colors for your smile.
How Do Braces Get Their Color?
When you look at braces, you are actually looking at a few different parts working together. You have the metal bracket glued to the tooth, and the archwire running across them. But how does the wire stay inside the bracket?
That is where the elastics (or “ligatures”) come in! These are tiny rubber bands that stretch around each bracket to hold the wire tightly in place. Because these rubber bands come in almost every color of the rainbow, they are what give your braces their unique look.
The Secret Trick: Colors That Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
Not everyone’s teeth are naturally bright white. Enamel naturally has a slightly yellowish tint. The good news? You can use color theory to your advantage! The bands you choose can create an optical illusion that makes your teeth look much whiter than they actually are.
The Best Choices: Dark colors are your best friend. Deep purple, navy blue, or even our signature “BRO Blue” create a strong contrast against your teeth, making your enamel look bright and white.
Cool Tones Work Too: If dark colors aren’t your vibe, stick to cool tones. Light blue and silver also do a fantastic job of making teeth look crisp and clean.
Colors You Might Want to Avoid
While we want you to get creative, our orthodontic assistants usually warn patients away from a few specific shades:
White: It seems like a logical choice to match your teeth, right? Wrong! White bands stain very easily from dark foods (like coffee, tea, or tomato sauce). Plus, if your teeth aren’t perfectly white, the bright white bands will actually make your teeth look yellow by comparison.
Yellow and Gold: These colors accentuate the natural yellow tones in your teeth, making your smile look a bit dingy.
Dark Green and Brown: Unless it is Christmas, you might want to skip the dark green. From a distance, green or brown bands look exactly like you have spinach or black beans stuck in your teeth!
Picking Colors Based on Your Skin Tone
Want to take your style to the next level? You can choose elastic colors that perfectly complement your natural skin tone and hair color.
| Your Features | Best Band Colors |
| Darker Hair & Complexions | Teal, bold blue, bright pink, silver, or light green. |
| Lighter Hair & Complexions | Navy blue, light blue, warm orange, or earthy greens. |
Mix and Match for the Holidays!
Remember, you get to change your colors every month. We love when our patients get festive! Here are a few favorite combinations we see in our Brevard and Hendersonville clinics:
October: Orange and Black (Halloween)
December: Red and Green (Christmas) or Blue and Silver (Hanukkah)
February: Pink and Red (Valentine’s Day)
Summer: Neon Pink and Teal (Poolside vibes!)
Friday Nights: Your local school or sports team colors!
What If I Don’t Want Colors at All?
If you are an adult professional looking for adult orthodontic services, or just someone who wants to keep their orthodontic treatment a secret, brightly colored metal braces might not be your style. We completely understand!
If you want the most discreet option possible, talk to us about Ceramic Braces, which use clear brackets that blend into your teeth.
Or, skip the brackets entirely with Invisalign®! We are a Top 1% VIP Invisalign provider in Western North Carolina, and we can straighten your smile using completely clear, removable trays. We even offer an exclusive at-home clear aligner system called Impressions for patients who want flexibility without the monthly office visits.
Ready to Start Your Smile Journey?
Whether you want a mouth full of neon pink, or a totally invisible Invisalign treatment, the first step is the exact same.
Come see the expert team at Blue Ridge Orthodontics! Contact us today to schedule a completely free, no-pressure consultation at our Asheville, Brevard, or Hendersonville locations. We can’t wait to help you pick out your first set of colors!