Chops That Lend Support to Champs

Olympic sports fans who happen to need their teeth straightened can choose braces that offer a combination of blue, black, red, yellow and green colors--the hues of the Olympic rings.

The American Assn. of Orthodontists says wearers can now choose braces with a variety of colored elastics and ligature ties.

Elastics are small rubber bands sometimes used with braces. Ligature ties are used to help secure an archwire to brackets attached to the teeth.

The association says some patients recently chose red, white and blue colors for the Fourth of July.

Many patients choose their school colors in the fall or colors appropriate for holidays: red and green for Christmas, black and orange for Halloween and blue and pink for Easter.