Quick answer
Burgundy and gold is the classic Thanksgiving braces color pair, and orange, red, dark green and gold are the colours of fall. Warm shades like orange (8/100) and gold (5/100) can make teeth look more yellow, so pair them with a dark colour: navy and burgundy scores 69/100 and navy and orange 44/100.
12 Thanksgiving and fall braces color ideas
Every picture is the same real smile, so you can compare the colours fairly. Tap any idea to open it in the picker and change it to your taste.
Warm fall colours and your teeth
Fall colours are warm, and warm colours sit close to the natural yellow in tooth enamel. On their own, orange and gold can make teeth look a little more yellow. Add one dark shade and the same autumn look makes teeth look brighter.
Orange stays the star in all three. Only the partner colour changes, and the score rises by 38 points. Read how the score works in the Tooth Brightness Index method.
Fall looks ranked for whiter-looking teeth
All 12 ideas sorted by Tooth Brightness Index. Stain risk is the highest of the colours in the look.
| Look | Brightness | Stain risk | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweater weather | 69 | Low | Navy blue and burgundy |
| Just burgundy | 58 | Low | Burgundy |
| Game day | 44 | Low | Navy blue and orange |
| Cranberry sauce | 42 | Low | Burgundy and red |
| Plum and gold | 42 | Low | Dark purple and gold |
| Pumpkin spice | 33 | Low | Orange and burgundy |
| Harvest burgundy and gold | 32 | Low | Burgundy and gold |
| Turkey feathers | 27 | Low | Burgundy, orange and gold |
| Pine and pumpkin | 25 | Low | Dark green and orange |
| Autumn teal | 22 | Low | Teal and orange |
| Maple leaf | 16 | Low | Red and gold |
| Autumn leaves | 13 | Low | Red, orange and yellow |
Time your appointment for Thanksgiving
Bands stay on until your next adjustment, usually 4 to 8 weeks. Here is what to ask for depending on when your visit falls.
| Your appointment | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Early October | Halloween orange and black, then switch at your next visit. |
| Late October | Fall colours that also work on Halloween night, such as pumpkin spice or pine and pumpkin. |
| Early November | Colours for Thanksgiving and Christmas together: burgundy and gold, or burgundy and dark green. |
| Late November | Go straight to Christmas braces colors. They will be on through December. |
Thanksgiving dinner with braces
Most of the Thanksgiving table is braces-friendly. A few dishes need a small change, and a few stain light bands.
- Corn on the cob: cut the kernels off first. Biting into the cob can loosen brackets.
- Turkey: cut it into small pieces and skip chewing on the bones.
- Pecan pie, nuts and caramel apples: hard and sticky, so they can bend the wire or pull bands off.
- Cranberry sauce, red wine, coffee and gravy: these stain white, silver and light bands. Rinse with water after the meal.
- Easy choices: mashed potatoes, stuffing, soft rolls, sweet potatoes, green beans and pumpkin pie.
Fall braces colours month by month
- September: back to school. Navy and gold photograph well for school pictures.
- October: Halloween. Orange and black, or purple and green for a witchy look.
- November: Thanksgiving. Burgundy and gold, pumpkin spice, or turkey feathers.
For every month of the year, see the seasonal colour calendar. Colour by colour guides: burgundy braces, orange braces, red braces and navy blue braces. Not sure yet? Take the braces colour quiz.
Try it on your own smile
Spin the wheel, mix two colours and see the Tooth Brightness score live.
Common questions
What are good Thanksgiving braces colors?
Burgundy and gold is the classic Thanksgiving pair. Other favourites are orange and burgundy for pumpkin spice, red, orange and gold for turkey feathers, and dark green with orange for a fall wreath.
What are the best fall colors for braces?
Burgundy, orange, gold, dark green and red are the colours of fall. For teeth that look whiter, build the look around a dark shade: sweater weather (navy and burgundy) scores 69 out of 100, while orange and gold together score only 6.
Do orange braces make your teeth look yellow?
They can. Orange scores 8 and gold 5 out of 100 on our Tooth Brightness Index because warm shades add to the natural yellow in enamel. Pairing orange with burgundy lifts the look to 33, and with navy to 44.
Can I eat corn on the cob with braces?
Cut the kernels off the cob first. Biting straight into the cob can loosen brackets. Turkey is fine in small pieces, and mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie are all braces-friendly.
What colours work for both Thanksgiving and Christmas?
Burgundy with dark green, or burgundy with gold. If your appointment is in early November, either one will look right for both holidays and keep teeth looking bright.
Should I pick Halloween or Thanksgiving colours in October?
If your visit is in early October, go for Halloween orange and black. If it is late October, choose Thanksgiving colours like burgundy and orange, which still look fall-like on Halloween night.
