Traditional orthodontic braces use elastic bands to make your teeth straighter and improve alignment. Today’s bands come in dozens of colors that can make your braces reflect an aspect of your personality. Instead of choosing a color randomly, spend some time thinking about what color braces you should choose.

Your Career May Affect Your Color Options

Some aspects of your life may encourage you to choose certain colors. If you work in a corporate environment, then you may need to avoid loud colors like neon green and bright orange. Instead, choose a subdued color that your colleagues will find more professional.

You may also want to choose subdued colors if you work with the public. Some people may like seeing a police officer with bright blue braces, but others will find it unprofessional.

If you worry that your braces will make work more difficult, then you should choose a simple color that doesn’t attract much attention.

Opportunities to Have Fun With the Color of Your Braces

Most people have their elastic bands changed every four to six weeks by their orthodontist, so you don’t have to commit to one color. Instead, you can look for opportunities that will let you choose fun colors for your braces.

For instance, you could choose:

• Green and red bands for Christmas
• Red, white and blue bands for Independence Day
• Green and white for Saint Patrick’s Day
• Orange and black for Halloween
• Your school colors for homecoming

You only have to live with your band colors for about a month, so you might as well have fun when the opportunities arise.

Braces Colors You Should Avoid

Some colors can make your teeth look unattractive, so you will want to stay away from them unless you’re using the colors to celebrate a specific event. Some of the worst colors include:

• White, which can make your teeth look yellow.
• Green or brown, which can look like food stuck in your teeth.
• Black, which can make your teeth look rotten.

Use an Online Tool to Preview Colors

Four to six weeks may feel like a long commitment to some people. Luckily, you can preview what the colors will look like by using an online tool or app. Online tools tend to offer generic previews, but they usually let you choose from dozens of colors. Smartphone apps can use your device’s camera to offer a more realistic preview of your unique teeth.

You don’t have to spend a lot of time agonizing over the color of your braces. Just follow these directions and use a preview to help you decide which color or colors will work well for you.