You get to change your braces colors every time you go in for an adjustment appointment, which typically happens every 4 to 8 weeks. The colored pieces are small elastic rings (called ligatures) that hold the wire into each bracket, and your orthodontist replaces them as a routine part of every visit. There’s no extra step or special request involved. You just pick a new color each time.
Why Colors Get Replaced at Every Visit
The elastic rings on your braces do more than look fun. They hold the archwire in place so it can apply steady pressure to move your teeth. Over time, these elastics lose their stretch. Most of the force drop happens within the first few hours after placement, but the material continues to degrade gradually over the weeks between appointments. By the time your next visit rolls around, those rings are worn out and need to go regardless of color.
There’s also a hygiene reason. Elastic ligatures collect significantly more bacteria and plaque than metal alternatives. Replacing them at each appointment gives your orthodontist a fresh start and reduces buildup that contributes to cavities and gum irritation during treatment.
Typical Appointment Schedule
Most orthodontic offices schedule adjustment visits every 4 to 6 weeks, though the American Association of Orthodontists notes that advances in technology now allow some patients to go 6 to 10 weeks between appointments. Your specific interval depends on your treatment plan, the type of wire being used, and how your teeth are responding.
At each of these visits, your orthodontist removes the old elastic ties, checks your progress, may swap to a new wire, and then places fresh ligatures. That’s when you choose your next color. So if you’re on a 6-week cycle, you’ll pick new colors roughly 8 or 9 times over the course of a year.
Can You Change Colors Between Appointments?
You shouldn’t try to swap the elastics yourself at home. Removing and replacing ligatures without the right tools risks popping a bracket off or disrupting the wire’s position, which can set your treatment back. If you really dislike the color you chose, you can call your orthodontist’s office and ask if they’ll do a quick swap, but most practices will suggest waiting until your next scheduled visit. Color changes between appointments aren’t standard, and some offices may charge for the extra chair time.
Colors That Hold Up Best
Not all colors age the same way over a 4 to 8 week stretch. Lighter shades, especially white, clear, and pastels, are the most prone to picking up stains from everyday food and drinks. Coffee, tea, red wine, berries, tomato sauce, and curry are the biggest culprits. A white elastic that looks crisp on day one can turn yellowish or dingy within a week or two.
Darker colors like navy blue, dark purple, and forest green tend to look more consistent from one appointment to the next. They also create contrast against your teeth that makes your smile appear whiter. If staining bothers you, sticking with mid-to-dark shades is the simplest fix.
Choosing Colors That Flatter You
Since you’ll be picking new colors every few weeks, it helps to have a general sense of what works with your complexion. The guidelines are straightforward:
- Fair or light skin: Soft tones like light blue, lavender, and baby pink blend well. Silver and clear are understated options.
- Medium or olive skin: Bolder choices like turquoise, coral, and dark purple create a nice contrast and complement warmer undertones.
- Darker skin: Vibrant shades like royal blue, gold, neon green, and orange stand out especially well.
One universal tip: avoid yellow, white, and pale green if you want your teeth to look their whitest. These light shades sit right next to your enamel and can make teeth appear more yellow by comparison. Dark navy, violet, and forest green do the opposite, making your natural tooth color pop brighter.
Making the Most of Each Color Change
Many people treat each appointment as a chance to match a season, holiday, or school color. Others rotate through two or three favorites. You can also mix colors, placing one shade on your top teeth and another on the bottom, or alternating colors across individual brackets. Your orthodontist or assistant will accommodate most combinations as long as they have the shades in stock.
If you’re indecisive, keep a running list on your phone of colors you’ve tried and liked. With anywhere from 15 to 25 color changes over a full course of treatment, you’ll have plenty of chances to experiment.