When people get braces, they tend to be a little bit anxious about how they make them look. They might worry that the wires and brackets will negatively affect their appearance, or that they’ll be judged for their dental work.
However, in certain cases, braces may actually make you look better than you did before! For example, there are some colors or rubber bands for braces that can make your teeth look whiter and healthier. If you’re a candidate for braces soon, here’s what you should know about the colors available to you.
What Colors Will Make My Teeth Look Whiter?
In case you aren’t aware, the brackets for your braces will be held together with thin rubber bands that go around them. Part of personalizing your braces will be picking the color that you think will suit you best.
Typically, orthodontists will recommend colors that are unlikely to become discolored themselves, and that are fairly dark. Ideally, this will include colors that are dark enough to make the teeth look bright by contrast.
Navy blue, purple, and even black are all popular rubber band color choices for this reason; each of them will make your teeth look whiter!
Rubber Band Colors You May Want to Avoid
Just like there are rubber band colors that can make a positive impact on the appearance of your smile, there are some that may give others an undesirable impression. You might expect white rubber bands to make your braces a little bit more subtle, but the fact is that they tend to collect stains over time, giving your smile a discolored appearance. The same goes for yellow and gold rubber bands.
Green and brown are slightly safer options, and their dark color can be nice. However, there’s a risk that these rubber bands might make it look a little like there’s food stuck in your teeth.
Clear Braces as an Option
If you want your braces to be as subtle as possible, you might also be interested in clear/ceramic braces. Instead of metal brackets, these braces use clear ceramic that will allow your natural teeth to shine through. This ceramic is resistant to stains and can therefore be incredibly subtle for the duration of your orthodontic treatment.
Ultimately, you’ll have your braces for a long time—they should be customized perfectly to you!
About the Author
Dr. Payam Ishani has a passion for helping his patients; getting to know them makes seeing their smiling face incredibly rewarding. He also believes that your orthodontic care should be tailored specifically to you, fitting who you are as an individual. Dr. Payam Ishani received his dental degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, and his specialty training in orthodontics from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
If you have any questions about your braces, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (405) 254-5094.