Blue Braces: How To Pick the Right Colors for Your Braces

So you’ve decided to take the look and feel of your smile into your own hands and straighten your teeth? Awesome! First off, we’d like to take a second and congratulate you on this decision一it truly is a huge step in self-improvement and will change your life for the better in so many ways.

Now that you’ve decided to go ahead with treatment, you’ll have a couple of choices to make.

One of the more fun decisions in your smile journey is choosing what color you’d like to accessorize your braces. After all, most patients will spend a minimum of 18 months with braces on their teeth, so choosing the right color is a pretty important task.

Don’t feel like you’re getting pressured into a big commitment, however; your orthodontist can change the colors of your braces during each visit, which usually takes place every 4-6 weeks. So how exactly do braces get their flare?

How Braces Get Their Colors

Think of a mouthful of braces almost like a machine, with many parts that are working simultaneously to improve the look and shape of your smile. There are the brackets, archway, metal bands, and the bands made of rubber that go around each bracket, otherwise known as elastics. It’s through the use of colorful elastics that patients get to accessorize their smile.

Some may choose to use ceramic brackets to minimize the visibility of their braces. While ceramics do a great job of blending into your teeth, they don’t allow for a lot of creative expression.

With typical steel braces, not only is the bracket slightly more durable, you as the patient can choose the colors that you want to decorate your mouth. Different elastic bands allow you to colorize your teeth in different styles. Get as creative as you’d like with it! And because the bands are changed during each visit to the orthodontist’s office, you won’t have to settle for just one look. Change your style every 4-6 weeks to stay seasonally-appropriate throughout the year!

What Colors Are Best and Which Should You Avoid?

The decision of what color to choose is largely dependent on personal preference. Most patients go with their favorite colors, or choose something to coordinate with an outfit. Some might go the festive route and rock colors that match an upcoming holiday. The options are endless, but there are a handful of colors that prove themselves a better companion to most smiles.

Dark colors, like the deep blue of BRO’s logo (hint, hint), often make teeth appear whiter by comparison. With lighter colors like white or gold, teeth can look more yellow because they accentuate the natural yellowish tint inside your enamel. Unless you’re repping for a school team, it’s probably best to avoid any yellow or gold.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Color

Here are a couple of tips to remember when choosing a color to ensure it maximizes the look of your smile:

• White braces seem great but can discolor quickly from drinking and eating certain foods. They are especially susceptible to stains, and may also make your teeth appear yellow by comparison.
• Darker colors, like a deep purple or BRO blue, make smiles appear whiter because of the contrast with your teeth.
• Dark green and dark brown are often avoided because they may resemble food that’s gotten stuck in your teeth.
• Gold and yellow will bring out the natural yellow inside your enamel, making them appear more dingy than they actually are.
• Not everyone’s teeth are the same, so be sure to talk with your doctor about the shade of your teeth when you’re trying to decide on a color.

Colors to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter

By now, we all know that dark colors are best when you want to make your teeth look whiter, but what about bright colors like pink and red? While they may not directly affect the whiteness of your teeth, they often compliment a tan, which usually makes your teeth look brighter as well. And don’t just think that you have to match a bruise to make your teeth shine一cool tones like light blue and silver work wonders for the perceived whiteness of teeth.

No matter the color that you choose, the best way to keep your teeth looking bright is to brush and floss regularly throughout treatment. Though it can be difficult and time-consuming to care for your teeth while your braces are on, your smile will thank you for all the hard work!

Can I Mix and Match?

One of the best ways to keep your colors looking fresh and flattering is to mix and match the bands that you use throughout the course of your treatment. Color block the top and bottom rows of your braces so that they are complimentary but unique, or choose a funky pattern to switch up the look that you’ve got for a couple of weeks. Got a favorite holiday? Go red and green for Christmas, or blue and silver to celebrate Hanukkah. With the assortment of colors currently available to most orthodontists, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to what you can do to accessorize your style.

Matching Your Skin Tone and Facial Features

Another way to guide the decision of which colors you’d like to use is to match them with your skin tone and features. Finding complimentary colors is not hard to do. For those with darker hair and complexions, colors like teal, blue, green, pink, silver and light green look best. For patients with lighter features, dark blue, light blue, shades of green and orange are the best bet.

What About Invisalign?

What if you don’t want to bother with any of this and instead are seeking the most discreet option possible? One of the best parts about practicing orthodontics today is the wide range of possibilities that are available to potential clients. For those of you who want to straighten your smile but don’t like the look of metal braces, why not consider Invisalign?

It’s a system that uses clear aligners to gradually move teeth over the course of many months, but that’s not the only alternative available today. For mild to moderate cases of orthodontic correction, there’s Impressions. This proprietary technique developed by our own Dr. Luke Roberts uses the same clear plastic aligners as Invisalign but does not require the same amount of in-office visits. Find out if you’re a candidate here.

Conclusion

No matter the colors you land on, remember that the upkeep and maintenance of your oral health is just as important during treatment. It’s recommended that you brush and floss regularly, and avoid certain foods like bone-in meat and whole apples.

If you are looking to begin orthodontic treatment but don’t yet know which option is right for you, contact our office to schedule a complimentary consultation. Our practice is equipped to offer every orthodontic option available, and our knowledgeable staff will talk you through the benefits and drawbacks of each to find out which one is best for you. Blue Ridge Orthodontics is passionate about improving the look and quality of every smile, and we look forward to welcoming new clients into the BRO family.