Although they were first developed in the 19th century, orthodontic braces haven’t changed much since then – but now thanks to technological advances, there are more options than ever when it comes to the color of your braces! So which one makes teeth whiter? Let’s take a look at the different braces colors and how they affect teeth whiteness!
White or Clear Braces
Braces have a lot of colors and it can be difficult to figure out which is best for you. While white braces do make your teeth appear brighter, they might not be right for everyone. Braces in clear can still get your teeth white, but they are less noticeable. Yellow or colored braces also work, but they aren’t as effective at whitening your smile. If you’re looking for boldness and visibility, go with white; if you’re looking to avoid being flashy, choose clear or a light-colored option instead.
The choice depends on your personality and preferences; both options are equally capable of helping you create a bright smile. Be aware that braces won’t necessarily whiten your teeth to their full potential because they cannot address underlying issues such as bad oral hygiene habits or poor tooth structure.
On average, it takes roughly 9 months for braces to achieve results (though some people see results faster than others). You should see major improvement by 6 months after treatment begins, though small improvements will continue for several years afterwards. Whitening strips can help speed up results slightly—they work similar to how waxing does: The strips pull off natural stains from foods—and only affect those surfaces without removing any enamel.
Yellow or Gold Braces
It might be counterintuitive, but yellow or gold braces don’t actually make your teeth look brighter than white ones. While it seems like a good idea to opt for shades that aren’t so obviously visible on your smile, in reality they still show up when you smile and therefore won’t hide any stains. You might want to consider a transparent shade instead of picking something with an obvious hue. This will ensure that not only do you have beautiful-looking teeth but also no one will be able to tell that you have braces at all!
Make sure to schedule regular appointments with your orthodontist (at least twice per year) for professional whitening treatments as well. You can also use toothpaste designed to clean braces; these products help remove stains while strengthening teeth with fluorides. Additionally, avoid eating foods high in tannins like coffee, tea, red wine, berries, etc. during your treatment—these can stain both braces and teeth alike if consumed too often. Most importantly though—don’t fall prey to myths about which brace colors are best at making teeth appear lighter or brighter—it doesn’t work that way! Your best bet is choosing a translucent shade so that others can't even see them at all.
Blue or Gray Braces
If you’re looking for a natural-looking braces option, a light blue or gray shade is one of your best bets. These shades are subtle and have low contrast with many natural teeth shades, so they may not make as much of a difference in appearance as other colors. Plus, they typically cost less than other options. Finally, if you’re having trouble choosing between two shades close to each other on a color wheel, go with whichever one has more of an orange hue—it will be closer to your natural tooth tone. The X-Rite ColorChecker Classic Chart can help you determine which braces color wheel suits you best by showing exactly how it will look before going under anesthesia.
The main reason people get white braces instead of clear is that it looks better aesthetically when finished (with no black spots). People do choose white because it can improve their smile faster, but only if they commit to removing all traces of plaque regularly and making sure no food or drink get caught around them after being placed on their teeth. White brackets take longer to wear off and must come off during any necessary cleaning appointments that deal with roots below where cement was placed around/in between/over top wire brackets.
Other Braces Colors
Everyone has their own preferences for colors, but there are general rules about braces colors that make them more likely to blend in and look less obvious. Some colors of braces stand out more than others, so be careful if you have light skin. Most clear braces don’t look like they have anything on your teeth at all; yellow-colored braces tend to stick out just a little bit against your natural tooth color. If you can choose, pick off-white or clear colors for unobtrusive results.
If you’re concerned about how your natural tooth color will show through colored braces, ask your orthodontist about prepping before it’s time to attach them. Your provider may offer whitening treatment options or suggest using an opaque whitening gel on your teeth before getting braces—this way, they won’t get discolored when exposed to certain products. Prepping can help avoid problems with staining and sensitivity as well. If you experience changes in sensitivity during initial phases of treatment, it is possible that stains from other products (for example from acidic foods) may be causing issues. A simple remedy is to brush with a whitening toothpaste prior to starting any professional treatments such as bonding or bleaching. Your best bet is always speaking with your dentist though regarding what might work best for you!
