A Guide to the Best of Southern California : FASHION : Smart Mouths

Kids are copping a new attitude when it comes to wearing braces. High visibility, colored braces are sidelining their clear counterparts and rendering the adolescent taunt metal mouth obsolete. The color comes in the form of fixed brackets--the “grounding units” that are bonded to teeth--rubber bands and retainers. The colorful elastics, which boys and girls can change to match their surf trunks or baby-doll dresses, go for about the same price as regular rubber bands. The brackets cost about the same as clear ones. Shades range from primary red, blue and yellow to bright neons to subtle pastels. With so many choices, even the most self-conscious kid is bound to crack a smile.

For a list of orthodontists specializing in colored braces, call (800) 222-9969.