Quick answer
The best braces color combos pair one dark shade with one lighter one. Gray with navy blue, dark purple with lavender, and black with hot pink score highest for whiter-looking teeth. For a fun look, try pink and purple, teal and hot pink, or hot pink and royal blue. Most orthodontists will alternate two colours tooth by tooth if you ask.
How to pick two colours that work
- One dark, one light. A dark shade keeps teeth looking bright while the lighter shade adds colour. Navy with light blue is the classic example.
- Neighbours or opposites. Colours next to each other on the colour wheel (purple and pink) look soft. Colours opposite each other (purple and teal) look bold.
- Skip two pales together. Two light pastels side by side can make enamel look yellow and both show stains.
- Alternate for colour, split for contrast. Alternating spreads both colours across your smile. Top and bottom keeps each arch one colour.
Every picture below is the same real smile with the two colours alternating tooth by tooth. The score is the average Tooth Brightness Index of the pair.
Classic braces color combos
Quiet, grown-up pairs that photograph well and keep the focus on your smile.
Pastel braces color combos
Soft, sweet pairs. Pastels stain a little faster, so they suit people who do not drink much coffee, tea or cola.
Bold braces color combos
Loud, high-contrast pairs made to be noticed.
School and team braces color combos
Pairs that match the most common school and team colours.
Combos that make teeth look whitest
If whiter-looking teeth matter most, these are the strongest pairs from the list above.
| Combo | Brightness | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Gray and Navy Blue | 59 | Classic |
| Dark Purple and Lavender | 58 | Classic |
| Black and Hot Pink | 56 | Bold |
| Navy Blue and Light Blue | 54 | Classic |
| Navy Blue and Silver | 51 | Classic |
| Hot Pink and Royal Blue | 51 | Bold |
| Purple and Teal | 50 | Bold |
| Red and Black | 50 | School and team |
Three colours and rainbow patterns
You are not limited to two. Rainbow bands, school colours in threes and holiday patterns like red, white and blue are all common requests. The picker's Custom mode lets you paint each band on its own, and the seasonal calendar has a ready-made look for every month.
Not sure where to start? The 60-second quiz picks a colour or a pair for you.
Try it on your own smile
Spin the wheel, mix two colours and see the Tooth Brightness score live.
Common questions
What are the best braces color combinations?
For whiter-looking teeth, pair a dark cool shade with a lighter one. Of the 24 combos here, Gray and Navy Blue, Dark Purple and Lavender, and Black and Hot Pink score highest. For fun, pink and purple, teal and hot pink, and hot pink and royal blue are the most eye-catching.
Can you get two colors on braces?
Yes. Most orthodontists will alternate two colours tooth by tooth or put one colour on the top teeth and another on the bottom if you ask at the start of your appointment.
How do I pick two braces colors that go together?
Pick one dark shade and one lighter shade from colours that sit near each other on the colour wheel, like navy and light blue, or from opposite sides for contrast, like purple and teal. Avoid pairing two pale colours, which can make teeth look yellow.
Can I have three or more colors?
Usually, yes. Rainbow and three-colour patterns such as red, white and blue are common. Ask early in the appointment so your orthodontist can plan which band goes where.
Do two-color braces make teeth look whiter?
It depends on the pair. A combo scores about the average of its two colours, so navy with silver still helps teeth look whiter, while white with yellow does the opposite.
