BY DESIGN : Smile When You Say That : Trends: Brace yourself for the revolution. Colorful retainers with messages and hobby icons (worn to keep teeth in line) encourage kids and adults to open wide.

Some might find it hard to swallow, but retainers--yes, those ugly acrylic things that stick to the roof of your mouth and hold your straightened teeth in place--are making fashion statements.

Once retainers were made of plain, gum-colored plastic. Now they come in colors such as purple, lime and orange as well as glow-in-the-dark and neon shades.

“We’ve even had some done in school colors. I’m a USC alum, and I’ve done several USC retainers,” says Steven Wynn, a Newport Beach orthodontist.

Retainers can also be personalized with decals that are embedded in the transparent acrylic.

“We’ve done American flags, stripes, checks and sparkles. Any kind of sticker can be incorporated in the design,” Wynn says. “Some people want stickers of their favorite kind of dog. One girl wanted a picture of a Dalmatian.”

Some patients have had retainers printed with a “No Smoking” sign. Others have included their names and phone numbers.

“Maybe if you lost your retainer someone could call you,” Wynn says.

Dave Magnusen, owner and operator of Magnusen Orthodontic Lab in Costa Mesa, has produced retainers bearing stars, hearts and Ninja Turtles. One design looks like a slice of watermelon--black seeds on a pink and green background. Another retainer comes in green Army fatigues print, “like in Desert Storm,” Magnusen says.

There are retainers to promote favorite hobbies. In Orange County, surfing stickers are hot. So are sports motifs such as baseball and basketball.

“We’ve done little baseball bats,” says Tami Cook, owner and operator of Stark Orthodontic Laboratory in Laguna Beach. “Or we do musical notes.”

While it’s difficult to create a detailed picture on a piece of acrylic, lab technicians occasionally try their hand at turning retainers into warped works of art.

“Someone who works for me made a twilight scene with a sunset and a moon coming up,” Cook says.

Such artistry can’t be appreciated unless the patient opens wide, but that doesn’t stop both children and adults from wanting customized retainers.

“You’d be surprised. Adults get colored retainers just as often as kids, but they’ll go with a toned-down color,” Wynn says. “Kids will get neon or black. Believe it or not, black is very popular.”

Personalized retainers (and other orthodontic appliances designed to keep the teeth in line) also serve a purpose--of sorts. The colorful designs encourage kids to wear them more often, Cook says.

Here’s another appetizing thought: If there are other members of the household wearing retainers, Cook says they are less likely to accidentally put someone else’s retainer in their mouth.