Braces Colors: How To Choose Your Perfect Shade

Braces are usually the first line of correction when it comes to perfecting your smile. While you might not have the perfect teeth you want just yet, there's no reason you shouldn't feel confident in your smile while you have braces. The elastic bands that surround the metal or ceramic brackets are offered in a number of different colors, so you can choose the shade that's right for you. Whether you want to complement your skin tone or get festive with your look, braces colors can be used to help you feel confident until your braces are ready to come off. Here's how to choose the perfect color.

Braces Colors and Your Skin Tone

You can choose braces colors that help complement your skin tone. If you have dark or olive skin, opt for bright jewel tones, like gold, turquoise, violet or navy. If you have fair skin, cool colors look best, so try silver, sky blue, light pink or lilac. Choosing colors based on your skin tone also helps ensure that your braces always look good with whatever you're wearing, since you're likely to choose clothing colors that naturally flatter your skin.

Braces and Teeth Color Correction

Remember that your braces can offer contrast between the elastics and your teeth, so it's possible you use your bands for color correction. If you're self-conscious about your teeth being yellow or stained, choose darker colors, which can make your teeth look whiter. Avoid yellow or orange bands, which don't contrast as much and can make your teeth look yellow, as well. While white might seem like a good idea, your teeth might look dull in contrast, and white bands can actually stain over time, so it's best to choose another color. If you want a color that's less noticeable, go with clear elastics. It's also best to avoid colors like black, green or brown, since they might be confused with bits of food stuck on your teeth.

Get Festive with Braces Colors

You can choose your braces colors based on your mood, a holiday, and even team spirit, since you can change your bands every four to six weeks. Here are some fun ideas to try:

• Alternating school colors
• Red and green for Christmas
• Orange and black for Halloween
• Red, white and blue for the summer
• The colors of your favorite sports team
• Ask about glow-in-the-dark bands that look clear in the day but shine neon green at night!

Braces and Proper Care

Whatever color you decide to get, make sure to keep your teeth, brackets and elastics clean with the proper care. Your orthodontist will give you tips for keeping your braces clean and intact, such as avoiding sticky foods, brushing twice daily and flossing. Consider getting a toothbrush like the Colgate 360° Total Advanced Floss-Tip Bristles toothbrush. Its floss bristles clean deep in between teeth and along the gumline. Caring for your teeth means your elastics stay clean and your colors vibrant until it's time to change them.

Braces don't need to cramp your style. In fact, with the right color choices, your braces can actually enhance your look until you're ready to reveal your perfect grin. Choose carefully, and you'll be ready to show the world your smile long before your braces come off.