Are White Braces Right For You? (2024)

Are White Braces Right For You? (1)

Are White Braces Right For You? (2)

Braces sometimes get a bad rap, especially with adult patients. Traditional metal braces are prominent, which may make you feel self-conscious about your smile for the duration of treatment.

Today's options for braces are more expansive than they may have been in your youth. White braces made from ceramic material blend in with your teeth so they're less obvious. Understanding more about ceramic braces may help you choose the braces right for you and your lifestyle.

What Are Ceramic Braces?

Traditional braces are made from metal, attached to the teeth and secured with small elastic bands. The bands come in a variety of colors. Patients can choose white elastics for a more subtle look or opt for brightly colored bands; however, the metal remains highly visible.

White braces, on the other hand, are made of ceramic, so the only metal visible is the wire between teeth. The actual brackets that adhere to your teeth are white, making them less noticeable. Ceramic braces can help the wearer feel more confident in their smile throughout treatment. They may even entice reluctant patients to get braces if they were concerned about having a mouth full of metal.

Ceramic Braces vs. Metal Braces

While ceramic braces might be a better choice for some patients, picking white braces over traditional metal brackets isn't just a matter of color. Both have their pros and cons, so you'll need to talk to your orthodontist about which is right for you.

Ceramic braces tend to be pricier than metal braces, so they could be cost-prohibitive for some patients. Moreover, metal braces tolerate more pressure and shifting than ceramic ones, so if you require a lot of correction, your orthodontist may recommend choosing metal to avoid appliance breakage. If you do break a bracket or damage your braces, ceramic braces are more expensive to repair. You'll need to weigh the importance of subtler braces against the costs.

Caring for Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces can boost your confidence during treatment, but they can become discolored over time. Anything that could stain your natural teeth could stain white braces, so be careful when consuming drinks like red wine, coffee or tea and foods like tomato sauce or curry.

Just as with traditional braces, you'll also want to avoid sticky or hard foods that could get stuck on your wires or break a bracket. Brushing after every meal can prevent decay and stains, but avoid teeth-whitening treatments. They won't work on ceramic braces and could damage the material or leave it discolored, writes Healthfully.

The American Association of Orthodontists notes that the average treatment period for braces is 22 months. If metal braces make you self-conscious, that might sound like a long time. White braces make the process less noticeable, making them a great choice for adult treatment (or reluctant kids and teens). Talking to your orthodontist about your options and treatment plan can help you decide if ceramic braces are right for you.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

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ORAL HEALTH QUIZ

What's behind your smile?

Take our Oral Health assessment to get the most from your oral care routine

DO YOU KNOW?

2.3 billion

people worldwide suffer from tooth decay

Are White Braces Right For You? (2024)

FAQs

Are White Braces Right For You? ›

White braces make the process less noticeable, making them a great choice for adult treatment (or reluctant kids and teens). Talking to your orthodontist about your options and treatment plan can help you decide if ceramic braces are right for you.

Are white braces a good idea? ›

Ceramic braces are a good choice if you want your braces to be subtle. Because they're usually tooth-colored or white, they're less noticeable. This makes them ideal for straightening your teeth if you work a full-time job or attend college and don't want to draw attention to them.

Is white a good color for braces? ›

Additionally, clear braces and white braces tend to become yellow soon after you wear them. People usually choose clear or white because they think it is the most invisible, but it can also be the least flattering. White braces make your teeth look yellow and after some use, they become yellow themselves.

Do white braces turn yellow? ›

It's not the actual bracket that turns yellow. The ceramic brackets of your braces will never stain as they are resistant to discolouration. The clear elastic bands we use to attach the archwire to your brackets, however, can stain - and this can make your braces much more visible.

What color of braces is best? ›

Braces Band Colors and your Skin Tone

If you have dark or olive skin, opt for bright jewel tones, like gold, turquoise, violet or navy. If you have fair skin, cool colors look best, so try silver, sky blue, light pink or lilac. Braces wax is clear so it won't change the colors.

Do white braces get dirty? ›

The benefit of having white braces over metal braces is that the colour blends in with a patient's natural teeth. Yet similar to teeth white braces can stain if not looked after.

Do white braces cost more? ›

Finally, another big difference is cost: ceramic or clear braces almost always cost more than metal braces, due to the more delicate, expensive material the brackets are made from. Ceramic braces cost between $3,000 and $7,000, whereas metal brackets cost between $1,700 to $6,000.

What brace colors should I avoid? ›

Steer clear of extremely dark hues such as black and brown, as they can give your teeth a stained or discolored appearance. The same goes for white, yellow, and clear rubber bands. They are prone to absorbing color from dark drinks such as coffee, tea, and red wine.

What color braces don't fade? ›

Silver braces.

These color braces are not only pretty, but they can also look clean and sophisticated. Many people think that silver braces tend to fade over the years, but this is, in fact, completely untrue. Just make sure you keep the silver well-polished to avoid it tarnishing over time.

What color braces are least noticeable? ›

Try neutral tones: Neutral tones blend in well, so they are great if you want your braces to be camouflaged. Black, white or grey, all are good options for blending in your braces if you want to minimise how obvious your braces are to others. Remember to choose duller tones, not too bright.

Do ceramic braces hurt? ›

Not Sure What Style of Braces is Right for You? For people who need to straighten their teeth, ceramic braces are a great option. They deliver the smile you want with no discomfort and with the same effectiveness as traditional metal braces.

Do white braces stain easily? ›

Prone to Staining:

While ceramic braces offer aesthetic appeal, it's important to note that they may be more prone to staining than other options. The brackets of ceramic braces are made from a clear or tooth-colored material, which can absorb pigments from certain foods and drinks over time.

Do white braces stain? ›

Can Ceramic Braces Stain? The important thing to understand is that the ceramic brackets themselves do not stain. In fact, it is the clear bands around the brackets, which help to hold the wire in place, that can stain or become discolored.

Are braces painful? ›

Braces don't hurt when you get them, but minor discomfort is common. Some patients have pain while their mouth adjusts to their braces, and they describe it as a sore or achey jaw. Mild over-the-counter pain relievers and home remedies like saltwater rinses are very effective at soothing braces pain.

What can you not eat with braces? ›

Foods to avoid with braces:
  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice.
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice.
  • Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum.
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies.
  • Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots.

What color braces are cute to make your teeth look whiter? ›

Make your teeth look whiter – Darker shades like royal/navy blue, purple, and even black can make the color of your teeth appear whiter. Even so, be aware that colors like dark green and brown can look like food. What about white braces – Although this may be a color you were thinking of, you may want to stray away.

Do white braces get stained easily? ›

Clear or ceramic brackets used in orthodontic treatment can indeed become stained. Although they are designed to be resistant to discoloration, certain factors can lead to their staining over time.

What color braces make your teeth look the most white? ›

Generally, lighter and cooler tones such as white, silver, clear, light blue, or light pink can create the illusion of whiter teeth. How do certain braces colors create the illusion of whiter teeth? Lighter colors reflect more light, which can make teeth appear brighter.

What are the disadvantages of clear braces? ›

Clear braces tend to have bigger brackets than traditional braces. As a result of the larger size, it may be more challenging to clean around your brackets. The less you're able to clean around your brackets, the more your gums might potentially get swollen or recede.

Is it hard to keep teeth white with braces? ›

Not only can food and drinks gradually stain your teeth, but braces can too. Once you have stains on your teeth, brushing alone might not brighten your smile. In this case, you might need a whitening agent. The good news is you don't have to remove your braces to get a whiter smile.

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