Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of sodium ascorbate and delaying bonding for 4 weeks after bleaching on SBS of orthodontic brackets. Methods: Sixty freshly extracted, noncarious, premolars were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 15 each. Orthodontic brackets were bonded with a composite resin and cured with a halogen light. After bonding, the shear bond strengths of the brackets were tested with a universal testing machine. Group I served as the control. In groups II, III, and IV, teeth were bleached with an office bleaching method. In group II, brackets bonded immediately after bleaching. In group III, teeth were immersed in artificial saliva of 4 weeks after bleaching before bonding brackets. In group IV, teeth were treated with 10% sodium ascorbate after bleaching before bonding brackets. Results: One-way analysis of variance indicated a significant difference between groups (P < .001). The highest values for SBS were measured in group I (11.92 +/- 0.81 MPa). The SBS was significantly lower in groups II, III, and IV than in group I (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference between groups III and IV. Conclusions: Bleaching significantly reduced the SBS of orthodontic brackets on human enamel. If bleaching is mandatory, teeth should be treated with sodium ascorbate before bonding.