Living With Braces
6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics
New braces come with a small perk most people don't expect: you get to design them. The tiny rubber ties that hold the wire in place, called ligatures, come in nearly every color you can picture, and you pick a fresh set at almost every visit. Nothing you choose is stuck forever. That freedom is half the fun of braces, especially for kids and teens. But a few color choices genuinely look better than others, and one or two quietly work against you. Here is how I help patients choose.
What are braces color bands, exactly?
The color comes from the elastic ligatures, small rubber bands that snap the archwire into each bracket. They don't change how your teeth move, and swapping colors never costs extra. You get a new set at every adjustment, roughly every four to six weeks, so if you regret this month's pick, it's gone soon. One thing to know: only metal braces and clear ceramic braces with elastic ties give you colors. Self-ligating braces and clear aligners don't use them, which I'll come back to.
Colors that make your teeth look whiter
This is the request I hear most, and the trick is contrast. A few shades sit next to your enamel and make it look brighter:
- Dark blue, navy, deep purple, and teal are the reliable winners.
- Black works too. It reads like thin metal, looks slimming against the teeth, and plenty of adults quietly love it.
- Bright silver or gray stay subtle while keeping teeth looking clean.
Colors to think twice about
White looks crisp on day one but stains fast and can make teeth look more yellow by comparison. Yellow and gold tend to make teeth look yellow. Clear or very light bands pick up color from coffee and curry and turn dingy. Brown can read like food stuck in your braces. None of these hurt your treatment, they just photograph poorly and fade in a way you'll notice.
Match colors to you: skin tone, eyes, and style
Beyond the whitening trick, color is personal. A few pointers I give patients:
| If you want | Good picks | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| Whiter-looking teeth | Navy, purple, teal, black | White, yellow, clear |
| Bold and colorful | Turquoise, emerald, royal blue, hot pink | Pale pastels |
| Subtle and low-key | Silver, gray, smoke | Neon anything |
For warmer or darker skin tones, bright saturated colors pop beautifully, think turquoise, emerald green, royal blue, or gold. On fair skin, bold jewel tones like sapphire and violet stand out while very pale pastels wash out. Echoing your eye color, blue, green, or hazel, is a subtle way to make your eyes stand out. And plenty of patients just rotate school colors, sports teams, or holiday themes, red and green in December, orange and black in October.
What if you don't want colored bands at all?
Plenty of adults want the opposite of a rainbow, and that's easy. Clear or silver ligatures on ceramic or metal braces keep things low-key, though clear ones can stain, so I usually steer adults toward silver. Or you can skip bands entirely with clear aligners. Most people say "Invisalign," but that's one brand of clear aligner, not the category. We prefer Angel Aligners for most adult cases, and there's nothing to color at all. If discretion is your priority, that's often the better route.
Ready to start your braces journey?
Come pick your first colors. A free consultation covers your options and a clear plan.
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Why families trust Elate Orthodontics
With over 1,000 five-star reviews across three locations, Elate Orthodontics is led by Dr. Kevin Baharvand, DMD, MS, a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, whose clinical work was recently selected for the cover of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, the most prestigious peer-reviewed journal in the field, and a national speaker on clear aligner treatment. Alongside Dr. Julia Kang, DMD, MS, both Boston University graduates and members of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon national honor society, our husband-and-wife team has been recognized as D Magazine Best Dentist 2026, Living Magazine Readers' Choice 2026 Best Orthodontist in Frisco & Plano, Readers' Choice Best Orthodontist in The Colony, Best New Business by the Chamber of Commerce, Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite, and featured in Orthotown and Authority Magazine.
We serve families through three convenient offices in West Frisco, North Frisco, and The Colony, each staffed by the same trusted team, equipped with advanced technology, and committed to the personalized approach that consistently helps patients finish treatment sooner than expected. From braces and clear braces to Angel Aligners, we offer treatment for every age and every stage of life. We stay in-network with most insurance plans and offer flexible financing to make exceptional orthodontic care accessible for every family we serve.
Need general and family dentistry too? Our sister practice, Tribute Family Dentistry, provides dental care for all ages.
