Braces color rubber

A bracket is bonded to each tooth and has a slot for the archwire. A small elastic ligature sits around the bracket wings and keeps the wire in the slot. The colour changes the appearance of the ligatures, not the tooth-moving force itself. Some braces use self-ligating clips instead of coloured elastics.

Choose a shade that fits your preference and ask how it may look with your bracket material. Brush around each bracket, clean under the wire with an interdental aid, and attend adjustments so worn ligatures can be replaced. Dark blue, purple, or silver may make the brackets look defined, while pale shades can show food pigment more readily. The orthodontic team can show available options.

Contact the orthodontic office if a ligature comes off, the wire is poking, a bracket is loose, or pain does not settle after an adjustment. Do not cut or replace an elastic yourself. Food dyes and plaque can change how a colour looks between visits, so cleaning matters.

Do coloured braces bands stain? Some light elastics can pick up colour from foods and drinks. Your orthodontic team can replace them at the next adjustment or sooner when needed.