Braces Color Guide: How to Pick the Best Bands for Your Smile

How to Choose Colors That Look Great

Picking your braces band colors is one of the few fun parts of orthodontic treatment. You get to choose new colors every 4-6 weeks at each adjustment, so think of it as a rotating accessory. The elastic ties that hold your archwire come in over 30 colors, and you can mix and match between teeth for endless combinations.

Colors That Make Teeth Look Whiter

Darker colors create contrast that makes your teeth appear whiter. Navy blue, dark purple, and teal are consistently popular for this reason. Black is bold but can sometimes look like food stuck in your teeth from a distance — something to consider.

Colors to Avoid

White and yellow bands tend to make teeth look stained or discolored. Clear bands also pick up stains from foods like curry, coffee, and tomato sauce between appointments. Light green can resemble food particles.

Popular Color Combinations

School spirit: Match your school colors for game days. Seasonal themes: Red and green for holidays, orange and black for Halloween, red and pink for Valentine's Day. Classic combos: Alternating dark blue and light blue, purple and silver, or all black for a sleek look.