Gummy Tummy from Carlson Orthodontics

At Carlson Orthodontics we know the rumors going around – mostly among young people – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing!

--Carlson Orthodontics

Is Invisalign® Really Customized for Each Patient? Carlson Orthodontics

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do at Carlson Orthodontics is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Carlson Orthodontics is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call at 218-206-8209.

How To Stay Young & Healthy from Carlson Orthodontics

Whether you’re 5 or 50, your health depends on your awareness of what’s good for you. But in a world filled with fad diets, blaring advertisements, and unintelligible ingredient lists, we at Carlson Orthodontics know it can be difficult to determine exactly what is good for you – and what’s not.

For straightforward guidance on how to live a long, healthy life, we recommend Brush Your Teeth! And Other Simple Ways to Stay Young and Healthy by Dr. David Ostreicher. The book sums up good health in six fundamental principles: hygiene, diet, attitude, exercise, sleep and personal safety.

Drawing on nearly three decades of experience as an orthodontist and professor of health and nutrition, Dr. Ostreicher definitively answers age-old debates, like the best way to prevent colds and flu (your mom was right: wash your hands). He provides straight talk on a variety of diet choices including salt, fats, carbs and organic food, and he documents the importance of regular sleep, stress reduction and positive thinking to your overall health. His suggestions throughout are simple, clear, and inexpensive.

Dr. Ostreicher advocates a back-to-basics, common-sense approach to staying young and healthy. We at Carlson Orthodontics couldn’t agree more, and we’d like to repeat the title of his book as our favorite piece of advice: don’t forget to Brush Your Teeth!

Patient Testimonials of Carlson Orthodontics

Dr. Carlson and his staff focus on providing friendly service and quality orthodontic treatment to patients in the Duluth and Cloquet, Minnesota areas. We asked the patients about their experiences at Carlson Orthodontics, here is what they had to say:




The Carlson Orthodontics staff made my son feel very comfortable and at ease. They explained everything to him, in terms he could understand. ~ Danette S.

Dr. Carlson is easy to work with, and seems to keep up with technology. It's nice to go into the office and see things going on that help connect them to their patients. ~ Gordon Tate

Doctor Carlson is very personable and professional. I appreciate that they do not keep me waiting and that there are later appointments available for working patients. I am very pleased with results thus far. ~ Joan K.

Carlson Orthodontics has a convenient location, kid-friendly atmosphere, nice people, and great use of technology ~ Neil W.

I think Dr. Carlson is keeping up with the ever changing times very well. This makes it easy and convenient for the patient. ~ Holly R.

Dr. Carlson is very nice and he makes it so fun and easy to come to the orthodontist. I was kind of nervous at first but he made me feel right a home! I like the contests, and the tooth brushing station was a great idea! ~ Brooke N.

The entire staff is so very, very nice and very helpful. Very children-friendly! ~ Jayne M.

Cardiodontics: The Heart Mouth Connection from Carlson Orthodontics

If you have been told you have periodontal disease (also known as gum disease or periodontitis), you're not alone. An estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of the disease! Periodontal diseases range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. In the worst cases, teeth are lost.

Gum disease is a threat to your oral health. Research is also pointing to health effects of periodontal diseases that go well beyond your mouth. So we at Carlson Orthodontics
want to let you know some interesting facts and ways to treat the disease.

What is Periodontal Disease?

"Perio" means around, and "dontal" refers to teeth. Periodontal disease is an infection of the structures around the teeth, including the gums and the bones that hold the teeth. The earliest stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis – an infection of the gums. In more severe forms of the disease, all of the tissues are involved, including the bone. Bacteria that live and reproduce on the teeth and gums cause periodontal disease.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Symptoms may include the following:
--redness or bleeding of gums while brushing teeth or using dental floss
--halitosis, or bad breath
--gum recession, resulting in apparent lengthening of teeth
--"pockets" between the teeth and gums indicating that the bone which holds the teeth in the mouth is dissolving
--loose teeth
Gum inflammation and bone destruction are largely painless. Hence, people may wrongly assume that painless bleeding after teeth cleaning is insignificant, although this may be a symptom of progressing periodontitis. If your hands bled when you washed them, you would be concerned. Yet, many people think it's normal if their gums bleed when they brush or floss.

Periodontal Disease Affects Your Health

Periodontal disease is a putrid, festering infection of the mouth. Bacteria and inflammatory particles can enter the bloodstream through ulcerated and bleeding gums and travel to the heart and other organs. In recent years, gum disease has been linked to a number of health problems. Researchers are studying possible connections between gum disease and:
--Heart disease: Gum disease may increase the risk of heart disease. Gum disease also is believed to worsen existing heart disease.
--Stroke: Gum disease may increase the risk of the type of stroke caused by blocked arteries
--Diabetes: People with diabetes and periodontal disease may be more likely to have trouble controlling their blood sugar than diabetics with healthy gums.
--Premature births: A woman who has gum diseases during pregnancy may be more likely deliver her baby too early and the infant may be more likely to be of low birth weight.

Combating Periodontal Disease

--See your dentist! See your dentist every six months for a checkup! Regular professional cleanings and checkups make you feel good, look good, and could be a lifesaver!
--Brush and floss daily. Take your time and do it right!
--Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Daily use of an anti-bacterial mouthwash helps to disinfect the teeth and gums, and reduces the number of bacteria.
--Straighten your teeth. Crowded teeth are nearly impossible to keep clean. Orthodontic treatment can greatly reduce inflammation and periodontal disease.

--Carlson Orthodontics

Meet Dr. Carlson

One of the great things about orthodontics is that I am never done learning. With so many advancements in the field, there are always new discoveries to follow. I regularly attend continuing education courses and am an active member in numerous professional organizations, including the American Association of Orthodontists and the Minnesota Association of Orthodontists.

When I am not at the office practicing orthodontics, I love to be outside participating in sports. I am an avid skier and cyclist. I also love aviation. For pleasure, I fly a small plane around the area. When I am at home, I watch sports on TV. While I like all sports, Michigan college football is my favorite. I also watch 24 and enjoy a good book. My latest read was Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. I live in Duluth with my family. My wife, Amy, and I have two children, Lauren and Erik.

I went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. I then decided to pursue dentistry and so I earned my D.M.D. from the School of Dental Medicine at Southern Illinois University. I was so passionate about dentistry that I graduated at the top of my dental class and was distinguished by the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Dental Society, the highest honor society among dentists. I wasn’t done learning, though, so I went the the University of Iowa Dental School in Iowa City to puruse orthodontics where I received my M.S. degree.