Balancing exercises are some of the most restorative movements you can make — for the mind and body.
This is the reason various mind-body disciplines — such as yoga — have always utilized balancing postures: they synchronize the mental and the physical better than most other activities we can engage in.
Here are some favorite tools to help encourage and take advantage of the benefits of balancing.
By improving your balance — in both lower and upper body — you can improve the health of your entire system.
The BOSU Ball is a staple of the modern gym and training session.
Creating an unstable surface to stand on — by putting the round side face-down (feet standing on the flat side) — the body has to constantly adapt and improve its balance. This strengthen’s the body’s joints (including the ankles, knees, and hips), core muscles, tendons, and leg muscles, while also synchronizing the nervous system.
You can also use this for upper body work, by doing pushups and planks with either hands or feet on the ball. The BOSU Ball is known for being well-built and durable, and is the standard among gym equipment of this type.
The ORIGINAL model was the first of its kind, and still is absolutely perfect for home use.
The PRO model is designed for use in gyms, and is capable of withstanding even higher traffic and use.
The NEXGEN is a new offering, built with supremely high quality and improved grips for more extreme training.
Simply inflate with air, and you’ve got an unstable surface to practice your balances.
This little balance disk is surprisingly helpful for being so cheap.
It’s not super tiny, but it is much more portable than a BOSU ball. It won’t give you nearly the range of possibilities a BOSU ball does, but it could be a quick “warm-up” before you head out the door — or an introduction to balancing.
I recommend the balance disk for beginners, or for experienced movers who want a portable option or variation from other, more challenging balancing tools.
PROs:
Pretty decent amount of stimulation to balance
Smaller, more portable
Well-made, durable
CONs:
Not as versatile or challenging as the BOSU ball
Very portable when deflated — (but re-inflating takes a few minutes)
RATING: 6.2/10
This is amazing as a quick, portable balancing tool. It’s absolutely better than nothing. However, if you can spend more on something more challenging (like a BOSU ball), you should. I enjoy owning both.
3
Lebert Parallettes
(amazon)
Parallete bars are incredible as a movement trainer.
They’re also excellent for building strength in the core and upper body. I consider them an essential component for building your core, shoulders, and entire upper body with balance between all parts.
PROs:
Super high quality
Two color options
Supports up to 400 lbs
CONs:
Smelly rubber feet/end caps.
RATING: 9.3/10.
These would be a 10/10 if the rubber end caps didn’t offgas so much. Remove them and let them offgas in the garage, or outside for a while.
At the time of this posting — the yellow set is quite a bit more affordable than the chrome. They must have had difficulty selling the yellow color.
4
Revolution Balance Board
(amazon)
This board allows you to mimic surfing, as you slide left-to-right, this really takes your balancing skills to the next level. The motion is limited to left-right motion (no forward-back), but nevertheless requires you to incorporate forward-back balancing to avoid falling either direction.
DIY — Make Your Own
You can make your own version of this for very, very cheap with two items from a hardware store: a $7-10 30 inch laminated wooden board (laminated is stronger) and a PVC pipe (they’ll often cut it for you — 16 inches should be about right). You might want to sand down the edges so they don’t scratch the floor.
PROs:
Convenient
Fun
Excellent trainer
CONs:
Pricey
You can make your own for under $20
Won’t last a lifetime
RATING: 8/10
I’d seriously consider making your own for much cheaper. You can always “upgrade” down the road if you really love the concept!
There is no better way to build upper body strength than bodyweight exercises.
For core strength, synergy between muscle groups, and a re-synchronization of the nervous system, bodyweight wins the day.
It’s also a fantastic approach when recovering from chronic illness, or fending off aging. Even the simplest bodyweight movements can improve and restore your body’s upper body strength — in nearly any situation.
The following products can be used in modified ways to accommodate the extremely feeble and highly advanced in age.
I’m extremely impressed with Titan Fitness products. (I’m not affiliated with the company, I’ve just purchased multiple products and love the quality and prices).
Among the most healing motions you can make is hanging — from something above you.
While branches and cliffs may have been nearby in times past, in the modern world — and as societies became more “civilized,” it’s become difficult to find something, anything, to hang from!
Enter the chin-up bar.
A solid, reliable bar to hang from is essential for the health of your spine, back, neck, and shoulders — even if you never attempt a pull-up.
In fact, many fitness-minded folks focus too much on the strength-building qualities of the pull-up/chin-up — and neglect the equally-restorative attributes of simple hanging.
TIP: Try to hang for at least 60 seconds a day.
PROS:
Improve your neck, back, spine, and shoulder musculoskeletal balance
Correct muscle imbalances that lead to pain
Elongate tissues in the entire upper body, leading to better blood flow, lymph drainage, and digestion
Strengthen nearly every muscle in the upper body, with the exception of the triceps
CONS:
None
RATING: 12/10
It’s hard to overstate how important it is to hang — and to be able to, because you’ve got the right equipment.
2
Lebert Parallettes
(amazon)
Parallete bars are incredible for movement and building strength in the core and upper body.
Parallete bars are a small, portable, home-size replacement for real parrallel bars (which are 4 feet tall and 10+ feet long).
Always be careful, especially if trying to do inversions (feet up in the air).
PROs:
Super high quality
Two color options
Supports up to 400 lbs
CONs:
The feet/pads have a China-rubber smell that takes a while to off-gas
RATING: 8.5/10
The only reason this product is not a 10/10 is that the rubber feet took a while to offgas.
3
Olympic Rings
(amazon)
(TitanFitness.com)
Don’t let the word “olympic” fool you. Everybody can benefit from a few minutes a day with the rings.
There’s no better way to build upper body strength than with the rings. They are absolutely at the top of the list for developing upper body muscle, fitness, tone, and overall balance.
Even if you’re saying “no way, not me” — trust me, you can benefit from rings. Even a few minutes a day, even with extremely simple, easy motions.
You don’t even have to know how to use them. Just pulling and leaning into the rings synchronizes your nervous system, improves your core strength, and puts you in the mode of “play.” As you become stronger, you’ll find yourself making natural motions that build your strength.
PROs:
Durable, high quality
Affordable
Extremely secure
CONs:
Wooden rings are easier on hands
RATING: 10/10
There is no better avenue to increase upper body strength than the Olympic rings.
One of the most gentle yet impactful supplements available, colostrum affects the gut in multiple positive ways — with low risk of intolerance.
Colostrum boosts immunity, fights pathogens, feeds beneficial flora, and regulates the speed of motility in the gut.
Lactoferrin (powerful against viruses and bacteria)
Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1, IGF-2) which help your tissues grow and recover
Immunoglobulins — (Antibodies, used to fight pathogens — IgA, IgG, IgM)
Prebiotics — Healthy fibers that selectively feed “good” gut flora
Proline-rich-polypeptides — Short proteins that boost immunity, increase cognitive performance, regulate cellular redox, and can even play a role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s
Colostrum is incredible for both constipation and diarrhea, as well as when fighting off an illness. Most products recommend a higher dose to knock out a bug when sick.
Colostrum is safe for nearly all people, with the only exception being those with sensitivity to dairy. That said, many lactose-intolerant folks have no issues with colostrum.
Antimicrobial herbs create hostility in the gut against microbes, reducing pathogen counts and boosting immunity. Rotate through herbs to prevent excessive killing.
Because oregano oil is quite powerful, it should only be taken for several weeks at most, and then cycled off for at least month or two. In dire cases, it may be used a month or so for its immune-boosting, antiseptic properties.
Oregano oil is most effective when the body is sick, fighting off illness, or struggling with dysbiosis of the gut, but it should not be taken daily for long periods of time.
Oregano oil may even reduce pain perception and increase a sense of calm, although these should not be the primary reasons to take this supplement.
Note — Oregano oil can deplete iron levels, and should be used cautiously or avoided when iron levels are too low.
Cinnamon
OREGON’S WILD HARVEST True Cinnamon
Cinnamon oil has potent antimicrobial properties against virtually all pathogens, even in drug-resistant strains.
…more info
Cinnamon oil is powerful stuff. If taken too frequently, it can kill off good gut flora in the gut.
Cinnamon oil can work against biofilms that allow hardy pathogens to resist antimicrobial compounds.
Triphala has potent antimicrobial properties and, therefore, it should be classified as a “killing” gut supplement, in that it will increase hostility in the gut against microbes. It also tends to have a mild laxative effect on the gut, helping to produce more complete and regular stools.
Peppermint
HEATHER’S Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a gentle antimicrobial, with varying rates of effect against different species of bacteria.
Peppermint doesn’t kill all microbes equally, but it can absolutely support the immune system by making the gut more hostile. Peppermint oil is known to have good results in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s but it also has value as a general antimicrobial for ongoing gut health.
Ginger
NATURE’S WAY Ginger Root
The main active ingredient in ginger is gingerol, which has powerful antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
Ginger is beneficial for dyspepsia (which is related to GERD, ulcers, gastric reflux, and gastroparesis), improving the rate of gastric emptying.
When used as an antimicrobial, ginger greatly reduces the growth of bacteria and viruses. Gingerol then absorbs into the bloodstream, exerting its anti-inflammatory and antmicrobial effects throughout the body.
Garlic
ZHOU Garlic
Garlic has powerful antimicrobial properties that affect the full spectrum of microbe — including bacteria, yeasts/fungus, protozoa, and viruses.
…more info
It’s antimicrobial effects are due to sulfur compounds that form as the garlic is chopped. Allicin is the main example, and it exhibits powerful antiseptic effects against microbes. Allicin is unstable — it breaks down shortly after garlic is chopped.
In this Zhou garlic supplement, allicin is stabilized — so its benefits are available anytime. The sulfur compounds in garlic are absorbed and travel around the body, behaving as an antioxidant and killing pathogens.
Turmeric (Curcumin)
JARROW Curcumin
Curcumin is a legitimate antimicrobial compound with far-reaching benefits for the entire body.
Against bacteria, curcumin has the most severe effect against H. Pylori, but also has broad-spectrum antibacterial effects.
Curcumin is being considered as an antiviral drug, and has broad-spectrum antifungal effects — most especially against Candida.
TUDCA is best known as a liver supplement (and a great one, at that), but it also directly improves the microbial balance of the gut.
TUDCA is a compound found in bile, but humans only make tiny amounts of it. On the other hand, bear bile is extremely rich in TUDCA, and for centures bear bile was used as a health tonic. Thankfully, it’s not necessary to hunt bears for their bile any longer.
TUDCA’s effect on the liver is beneficial for the gut. Bile ducts are gently, yet powerfully cleaned and nourished — improving liver health and bile flow to the gut. Bile is notoriously antimicrobial, meaning TUDCA improves the gbut microbiome indirectly, too, by making the gut hostile to pathogens via increased bile flow.
The UDCA stands for ursodeoxycholicacid and it’s a powerful compound in its own right. The “T” in TUDCA stands for taurine — a key amino acid that cleanses the liver and aids in digestion on its own. Therefore TUDCA provides the many benefits of UDCA while also those of taurine.
Liver health is essential for gut health, and the best first step toward both liver and gut health might be the powerful, yet quite tolerable, healing effects of TUDCA.
Thorne SF722
(Undecylenic Acid)
Lauricidin
Monolaurin
Digestive Enzymes
All enzymes are antimicrobial, increasing hostility in the gut against microbes.
PURE ENCAPSULATIONS Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes are the array of enzymes released when food enters the digestive system.
They are designed to specifically break down carbs, proteins, and fats.
Pancreatin is a commercial name for these three enzymes:
amylase
protease
lipase
These three enzymes are foundational to human digestion. Supplemental pancreatin is sourced from pigs and will have different ratios from human pancreatic juices.
This does not mean pancreatin is of no benefit to digestion, just that it is not a perfect replacement for human pancreatic enzymes.
“PPE [pancreatin supplements from pigs] do not provide a full substitution of the lipolytic enzymes present in HPJ [human panctreatic juices].”
Other enzymes are often included in digestive enzyme products: cellulase (breaks down cellulose, or plant fiber), and lactase (breaks down the milk sugar, lactose). Invertase breaks down sucrose (table sugar) into glucose and fructose. Beta-glucanase breaks down beta-glucans, a sugar found in plants (oatmeal, barley), and the cell walls of microbes (making this enzyme an antimicrobial and anticancer compound).
All in all, digestive enzymes can slightly improve the risk of maldigestion, ramp up gut hostility during digestion, and increase the absorption of nutrients. They may especially play a minor role when gut health is truly struggling and food is not well digested.
Sometimes, enzymes can increase energy in the body to the extent that they interfere with sleep. Enzymes can also deplete minerals in the body, particularly sodium and magnesium. Enzyme products also tend to advertise large doses per capsule — when smaller doses would be more tolerable and effective.
If you have any negative symptoms, such as insomnia — or feel that sodium or magnesium levels are being depleted — reduce the dose or frequency or stop taking enzymes altogether. Discontinue enzymes if any pain is noticed after taking.
Systemic Enzymes
All enzymes are antimicrobial, increasing hostility in the gut against microbes.
BRAGGZYME Systemic Enzymes
Systemic enzymes not only benefit the gut, but also enter the bloodstream and break down microbes, toxins, metabolic waste, and junk protein.
The benefit of systemic enzymes to the gut shouldn’t be overlooked, though. In fact, this is a critical component of why systemic enzymes seem to improve symptoms, performance, and quality of life so much.
The most popular systemic enzymes are all considered proteolytic — which means they break down proteins. This term is often used interchangeably (with “systemic”) to describe systemic enzymes, though it isn’t a perfect translation.
Systemic enzymes are quite popular — and for good reason. Taken exclusively on an empty stomach, they function in a more alkaline environment (the intestines and bloodstream) rather than an acidic environment (the stomach).
Attacking pathogens without the interference of food entering the digestive tract allows systemic enzymes to make significant headway — cleaning up the gut and bloodstream, and lowering inflammation as a result. Many folks notice more energy, better brain function, less joint pain, and improved mood as a result of systemic enzymes.
The most popular systemic enzymes are:
Serrapeptase — (from silk worms)
Nattokinase — (from Japanese natto)
Trypsin — (pancreatic enzyme)
Chymotrypsin — (pancreatic enzyme)
Bromelain — (from pineapples)
Papain — (from papaya)
It’s best to take these enzymes in a blend, together, to benefit from all of them simultaneously.
Too, the benefits of enzymes are possible in smaller doses than are often supplied in products. High doses can be jarring to a weaker system, and aren’t necessary. These products are often formulated to “impress” the average person — when the needs of those struggling with chronic digestive issues are very different.
As with any gut supplement, it’s common for a person’s response to systemic enzymes to be highly individual. Formulas change frequently — with the new ingredients being less effective than the old. Keep your wits about you; If you know why a product works you can be better suited to finding a replacement if a product changes or becomes unavailable in the future.
GutPro has been recommended to me by clients for several years, but I always balked due to the higher cost and online-only availability.
I’m glad I tried it, because this may be the highest-quality probiotic on the market.
With zero fillers (it’s literally the probiotics and nothing else), the formulation is designed to produce as little histamine or lactate as possible, minimizing negative reactions in those with hypersensitivities.
Negative reactions are still possible with any probiotic (GutPro acknowledges this on their website), so finding the right product for you is what’s most important. However, GutPro is likely one of the most tolerable and helpful products available.
When the powder form is purchased, customers receive a fair price (lower per serving than most other high-qauality probiotics) and option to pick the dose that works best. Microdosing is easy with GutPro powder. Be sure to get the dosing spoons, as well.
This product meets many criteria for quality and has delivered excellent results for both me and endless numbers of clients over the years.
Species Diversity — There are 31 strains in this blend, which is an extremely (perhaps remarkably) high number for a probiotic product. Results are always hit-or-miss when you go searching for “that one strain” that you need more of. Too, single strain products can cause imbalance over time (just like with nutrients). High diversity also reduces the likelihood of a bad reaction, due to diversification. Too, a healthy gut typically has more diverse species of microbes.
Vitamins, Minerals & Enzymes — Low-dose nutrient blends can be a major positive in poor gut health. Each time you take one of these pills, you’re getting not just the probiotic army, but a light dose of virtually all major nutrients and minerals you’d expect from a multivitamin — and in natural, non-synthetic forms. I would expect the small number of enzymes to possibly detract from the effectiveness of the probiotics, but this does not seem to be a concern, based on results.
Prebiotics — There are modest additions of potato starch and acacia fiber, which are both well-known prebiotics. This improves the effectiveness of the probiotics even when this product is taken alone on an empty stomach. It’s still optimal to take well-tolerated prebiotics with any probiotics, even if the probiotic contains some prebiotics.
It is perfectly acceptable to take one pill per day as a maintenance dose — meaning one 90-capsule bottle product can last 3 months. When we take probiotics with prebiotics, the numbers of the beneficial species can double in as little as fifteenminutes. This can be an efficient way of making probiotic supplementation more cost-effective.
The ability to take a single pill — rather than the full, 3-pill dose — also allows the user to test for tolerability when first starting the supplement.
After nearly a decade of taking probiotics and working with clients, this product clearly comes out the winner. Better results have been consistently achieved with this product than any others — even the outrageously-priced expensive brands like Metagenics (and other functional medicine probiotics).
Chewable Probiotics
Many, many folks struggle to swallow pills — especially when dealing with gut health issues that general weakness and/or nausea.
In these cases, a chewable probiotic can be nothing short of a life-saver.
I’ve had excellent results with this product, even if folks who struggle to tolerate gut supplements.
700mg is a slightly large dose. 500mg would be safer for beginners.
Tiny doses may be required in gut dysbiosis.
Apple pectin is a gentle prebiotic fiber that is quite well-tolerated and has many, many benefits for the gut.
Apple pectin can increase (and even double) butyrate levels, feed beneficial microbes and — surprisingly for a prebiotic fiber — actually reduce the number of harmful bacteria.
Apple pectin also increases the concentration of short-chain fatty-acids, acetate, propionate, and bicarbonate. Somehow, it also seemed to lower lactic acid in the stool (some folks struggle with lactic acid).
Importantly, the beneficial effects of apple pectin were not achievable simply by eating apples, apple juice, or apple puree — apple pectin alone was required.
When the apple pectin was removed from the diet, the improvements in gut began to retreat, suggesting that consistent pectin supplementation is a good idea.
A good, small starting dose for most is 250-500mg, with a large dose range being 1.5g/day. For severe gut dysbiosis, try 50mg (even a tiny, tiny pinch), or delay usage until gut health improves.
F.O.S.
SOURCE NATURALS F.O.S.
(Fructo-oligosaccharides)
Fructooligosaccharides are a natural fiber that occurs in foods.
FOS can be produced by breaking down inulin (usually from chicory root).
Taken properly, FOS can be a powerful tool to reshape the health of the gut microbiome. FOS is generally well-tolerated, except in certain more severe cases of gut dysbiosis, IBS, Crohn’s, etc. In these situations, FOS should be a later experiment, explored after other steps are in place (such as fixing the circadian rhythm, daily therapeutic light,
G.O.S.
JARROW G.O.S.
Bimuno
(Galactooligosaccharides)
(iHerb)
JARROW XOS + GOS
GOS is a fiber produced after lactose is digested, directly feeds beneficial microbes, and could be critical in the developing newborn gut microbiome.
Oligosaccharides resembling GOS occur naturally in human milk and may be one of the factors that protect human infants from gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria.
In infants, the supplementation of formula with a mixture of GOS and fructo-oligosaccharides can modulate bowel function and stool characters in the same direction as does breast-feeding.
H.M.O. uses human milk oligosaccharides to improve the gut microbiome and relieve symptoms associated with IBS.
I formerly recommended Holigos. However, Layer Origin claims to have a product that is 99% pure, whereas Holigos only claimed 95% purity.
I personally notice a better effect — particularly a cognitive boost — when taking Layer Origin’s H.M.O. I believe it’s a better product.
Infants consuming a formula with 2′-FL and LNnT had significantly fewer parental reports of bronchitis, reduced incidence of lower respiratory tract infections, reduced use of antipyretics and reduced use of antibiotics compared to infants fed a formula without HMOs (human milk oligosaccharides).
Many of the benefits of chicory root are attributed to inulin, although other helpful compounds are certainly in play, such as chicoric — which can improve blood sugar levels.
Inulin and chicory are longer-chain fibers and, therefore, may cause trouble in situations where gut health is weak. Coffee can have some minor benefits for the gut microbiota and can help relieve constipation — and makes a delightful pairing with chicory’s rich taste in this traditional New Orleans-style beverage.
Inulin is the least tolerable prebiotic on this list.
It is not recommended in situations where gut health is sensitive to fiber. Instead, start with something more tolerable, such as pectin — or non-supplement approaches like the circadian rhythm, therapeutic light, and environmental health.
When honey enters the digestive tract, it simultaneously feeds beneficial microbes, kills harmful pathogens, and provides nutrients and energy to the body.
Honey is even a complete food, providing micronutrients, amino acids, Vitamin C and B-vitamins — and encourages the intestinal absorption of these nutrients while discouraging pathogenic activity.
Flavonoids, polyphenols, and organic acids also contribute to the digestive, immune, and metabolic benefits of honey.
Research in animal models even suggests that not only does honey provide calcium, but it improves calcium absorption into the body.
Honey is praised and valued in nearly every ancient religious and wisdom tradition as both a food and a healing topical balm and internal medicine — with known hunter-gatherer tribes utilizing it as 20% (and more) of daily calories, while commonly living into their 80s.
Honey even seems to directly interfere with cancerous cells:
“[Honey] has significant anticancer activity against human breast and cervical cancer cell lines.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21167897/
Locally-produced honeys possess excellent antibacterial activity comparable to the commercial honeys.
Known for its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities, manuka honey has been used for centuries to heal wounds and improve oral health.
When compared to normal, local varieties, manuka honey has significantly more antimicrobial effects.
Manuka honey can even stimulate macrophages to release compounds such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 — which are critical for combatting microbial infections and wound healing.
The higher the UMF rating of manuka honey, the more potent the antimicrobial properties.
The only downside to manuka honey, for most locations around the world, is its expense — and higher UMF ratings can be extremely costly. On the bright side, even lower-UMF content seems to have profound antimicrobial activity.
I recommend buying what you can afford — don’t worry about achieving the highest UMF ratings. My results with various affordable manuka honey have been stellar.
Manuka honey has been widely researched and its antibacterial potential is renowned worldwide.
There are over 2500 articles on PubMed concerning the benefits of propolis.
“Propolis has been reported to have various health benefits related to gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, and gynecological, oral, and dermatological problems.”
Royal Jelly may even protect the skin from UVB-induced damage by improving collagen formation in the skin. Royal jelly also contains the unsaturated fatty-acid (10-HDA), which may have antitumor and antibacterial activity.
Apple cider vinegar is incredibly popular — and for good reason. Its beneficial effects are many.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is known as a digestive tonic, and it can actually help overweight people lose weight. It also leads to more satiety after a high-carb meal and improves blood sugar stability. ACV may also lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and reduce oxidative stress.
A main benefit of apple cider vinegar is its acetic acid. Acetic acid is highly antimicrobial and its attributes align almost perfectly with the broad-spectrum benefits of apple cider vinegar. ACV’s acidity also may allow minerals to be absorbed more effectively, and improve the acidity of the stomach after a meal — leading to increased immunity from opportunistic pathogens.
Take 1 tbsp (15 mL) in a glass of water 1-2x/day before meals or on an empty stomach.
Is ACV a cure-all? No, nothing is. Instead, apple cider vinegar is a powerful tool, and one component of a well-rounded gut regimen.
Conclusion
Miracles don’t happen with any individual supplement.
Very, very few people will find a gut supplement that restores amazing gut health on its own.
Instead, gut supplements must be combined — with each other and with a greater approach (the circadian rhythm, therapeutic light, good air quality, gentle movement, & wise nutrition) — to achieve the best effect.
It’s important that we understand 1) how the gut works and 2) what restores its function over time:
Increasing hostility to pathogens.
Constantly reintroducing beneficial microbes and giving them proper nourishment through diet and prebiotics.
When these factors are in play, great things can happen and gut health can be systematically restored.
This completes Big Supplement List (Gut). To continue, select Supplement Timing.
This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. All information is presented for educational purposes.
On one hand, the gut microbiome enjoys recognition as the primary hub of the body’s microbiome.
After all, each of the body’s different microbiomes — the mouth, nose, ears, throat, stomach, skin, and vagina — are all directly influenced by the microbes that live in the gut.
However, as important as the gut microbiome is, it’s deeply influenced by another microbiome: the oral microbiome.
Gateway To The Gut
The mouth is the primary entry point for all microbes that enter the body.
Seeing that the mouth is moist, exposed to the air, and rich with nutrients, it should be no surprise that the mouth’s microbiome is rich and diverse — brimming with microbial life at all times.
The oral cavity has the second largest and diverse microbiota after the gut harboring over 700 species of bacteria.
This daily exposure to endless microbes can overwhelm a weak immune system and populate the gut with the hostile microbes.
The Entire Body Is Affected
Left unchecked, microbes in the mouth can chronically activate the immune response — leading to system-wide inflammation in the body and even many systemic diseases:
The cause of Alzheimer’s might be microbes living in the mouth.
These oral microbes create acids to ward off other species of microbe. However, the mouth’s immune response to oral microbes is to create acids that are much more damaging to the teeth (and fillings) than the pathogens’ own acids. Therefore, a mouth full of unchecked microbes will lead to disastrous tooth decay.
The ongoing presence of stubborn pathogens in the mouth creates a toxic sequence of events that inflames the body, rots the teeth, and, ultimately, leads to systemic disease. Microbes enter the bloodstream via the gums and then travel all around the body, activating the immune system and causing inflammation.
A pernicious cycle develops over time as infection, inflammation, dental decay all cause each other, creating compounding symptoms and disease states.
Decaying, damaged, or poorly repaired teeth represent an opportunity for microbes to hide, reside, and thrive indefinitely.
When the body is weak, teeth can become both shelter and food for pathogens. Decaying, weak teeth are a source of nutrients for microbes.
The Path Forward
To give the body its best chance for health, recovery, and longevity, it’s important for the following steps to occur:
Teeth must stay clean
Pathogens must have nowhere to hide
Chronic immune system activation must be limited
When oral health has suffered, it’s important to protect and improve the mouth’s microbiome throughout the day.
Your Oral & Dental Routine
1
Rinse After Any Food
It’s not common to clean one’s teeth after every meal.
However, in chronic illness and aging, it’s critical to do just that.
Of course, it isn’t always convenient to brush your teeth after each meal and snack. But it can be very easy to rinse and swish for 60 seconds (or longer) — almost anywhere you go.
A small, travel-size bottle of tooth powder can be a gamechanger, leaving you always ready to clean your mouth after you eat.
Tooth Powder
Rather than leaving the mouth coated with food particles — which feed and grow microbes — a good tooth powder refreshes, sanitizes, and even repopulates, depressing microbial activity in the mouth and, in the case of this product, replenishing with a strain of beneficial bacteria.
If we can’t fully remove all food particles from the mouth — which is only possible via brushing and flossing — we must keep the microbial activity in the mouth suppressed until we can fully clean the teeth, tongue, gums, and other oral surfaces.
A quality tooth powder is, essentially, an all-natural toothpaste with solid ingredients including antimicrobial herbal extracts, Vitamin D, minerals, and even oral probiotics.
It’s good to keep a bottle in the car, at work, and perhaps in a few places around the house (such as the kitchen), where having the ability to quickly clean the mouth might prove useful.
Rinse After Snacks, Too
Keep a tooth powder bottle handy — in your purse, car, or desk at work — so you can rinse and swish after snacks, too.
A snack can introduce just as much organic matter into the oral cavity as a full meal.
Rinsing and swishing isn’t as effective as fully brushing and flossing — but it can protect the enamel from microbial fermentation of your food, and limit the need for an immune response in your gums (which is incredibly damaging to teeth).
Cleaning Throughout the Day
With a bottle of tooth powder nearby, we can easily swish and rinse following all meals and snacks, anytime.
You can also create your own mouth rinse using charcoal, ozone, essential oils, and other compounds — as we’ll discuss further.
Swish for 1-5 minutes after each meal or snack.
2
Bedtime
A Full Routine
Brush + Floss + Swish
Before bed, combine multiple steps to thoroughly remove all lodged food, plaque, and microbial biofilms from the mouth.
Three Steps For An Effective Evening Routine
Floss
Brush
Swish
An evening routine can be additionally be used in the morning, though it shouldn’t be a replacement for the evening.
Step 1
Flossing
It’s easy to forget about flossing — but it’s the only way to remove trapped food particles and plaque in between the teeth.
Floss before brushing the teeth. Be gentle on the gums while flossing — don’t overdo it by causing damage to already-inflammed tissues.
Essential oils and mouthwash discourage microbial activity throughout the mouth.
In fact, they are shown to be as antimicrobial as fluoride when topically applied. Essential oils are a main reason Listerine is so antimicrobial (although the drying-effect of alcohol in Listerine makes it a subpar choice, long-term).
This antimicrobial effect seems to last for some time in the mouth, giving the immune system a breather and making life hostile for opportunistic pathogens. Essential oils even penetrate the gums and gumline, helping sanitize deep into the tissues of the mouth.
There is considerable evidence that essential oils have potential to be developed as preventive or therapeutic agents for various oral diseases.
Some essential oils (clove, neem) are renowned for improving dental health, as well as for having some therapeutic value in a dental crisis.
Many mouthwash products include questionable ingredients, such as carrageenan or glycerin, which are purported to counteract other positive effects of the product.
3
Charcoal
Exceptional for swishing. But for Brushing?
Charcoal is becoming an extremely popular ingredient for oral health. It’s quite effective for polishing and removing stains on the teeth.
This is, in part, because charcoal has a strong negative charge, enabling it to remove plaque (which is positively-charged) from the negatively-charged teeth.
Charcoal is also antimicrobial and adsorptive, meaning it readily soaks up anything it comes into contact with in the mouth: endotoxins, tartar, and pathogens.
However, there is little evidence demonstrating that charcoal is safe for regular brushing — and some health professionals worry that prolonged brushing with charcoal might erode enamel.
Therefore it’s most likely best to use charcoal only as a mouthwash — swishing after meals or at night during the evening routine.
The good news, charcoal is incredibly effective when being used exclusively as a rinse — without brushing.
Anthony’s Activated Charcoal
View Country Life Activated Coconut Charcoal Powder on iHerb.
Enhancing With Charcoal
Upgrade your nightly routine by creating your own charcoal powder. Consider adding other powdered ingredients.
On the other hand, fluoride is also incredibly antimicrobial against microbes in the mouth. Fluoride disrupts pathogens’ enzyme receptors and weakens microbes’ resistance to acids.
Is there a difference between drinking — ingesting — fluoride into the body (with its effects on the gut microbiome, joints and tissues), and applying it topically in the mouth?
After nearly a decade of personally avoiding fluoride in both drinking water and oral products, it might be a good idea to use a fluoride rinse 1-2x/week simply to boost hostility of the mouth toward pathogens.
Fluoride may not be a make-or-break ingredient. But it’s nice to have a safer way to benefit from it without incurring too much risk.
ACT Total Care Fluoride Mouthwash
A glass of city water usually has about the same amount of fluoride as a small serving of fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride may not be necessary for optimal oral health — if you’re willing to put in extra work. Remember, many essential oils are just as antimicrobial as fluoride.
If you do wish to use fluoride topically (rather than ingesting it), it can most likely be done safely, even if only used as a rinse several nights per week.
If Desired, swish 1-2x/week for 30 seconds to increase hostility against microbes in the mouth.
5
Ozone
Ozone is rapidly becoming a component of alternative dentistry.
Dental ozone use has a good amount of preliminary research into its clinical efficacy. Consider this passage from a 2019 study:
Show quote
“Healthy cells contain antioxidants such as vitamins C and E to protect against ozone oxidization. However, pathogens such as bacteria contain very trace amounts of antioxidants in their membranes, which make them susceptible to ozone and destroy the cell membrane. This review explores the history, composition, and use of ozone worldwide in dentistry. Ozone therapy has thus far been utilized with wound healing, dental caries, oral lichen planus, gingivitis and periodontitis, halitosis, osteonecrosis of the jaw, post-surgical pain, plaque and biofilms, root canals, dentin hypersensitivity, temporomandibular joint disorders, and teeth whitening. The utility of ozone will undoubtedly grow if studies continue to show positive outcomes in an increasing number of dental conditions.”
At the dentist’s office, several methods exist for applying ozone to the teeth and gums, but the most typical is insufflation where ozone gas is applied to the dental arch.
Ozone is also sometimes injected into cavitations — abscesses which can result from infected tooth extractions.
Ozonated Water
Ozonated water can be made in minutes with a specialized ozone generator.
Freshly prepared ozonated water showed a statistically significant reduction in [Mutans Streptococci] counts after an interval of 7 days and 14 days when compared to Chlorhexidine.
Swishing with ozonated water makes an excellent additional step in any evening routine.
A2Z Ozone Aqua-6 Multi-Purpose Ozone Generator
Ozonate water for 3-5 minutes in a glass. Then, swish in the mouth for 2-3 minutes.
6
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling produces excellent results for some people but consistency and time is required.
Several studies demonstrate that oil pulling does, in fact, have some antimicrobial properties.
Show quote From Study
“Their study observed 20% reduction in bacterial count upon 40 days of oil pulling using sesame oil. Also they observed reductions in the severity of dental caries.”
“The study observed 50% decreases in gingival and plaque indices after four weeks.”
“Oil pulling generates antioxidants which damage the cell wall of microorganisms and kill them.”
When oil mixes with saliva it emulsifies and produces some compounds with saponification properties — also known as soap.
Therefore, there’s no reason not to oil pull as often as is convenient, even if the toxin-removal effects are only limited (we really don’t know one way or the other).
Be sure to spit into a trash can instead of the sink.
Oil pulling can be augmented by including a drop of gum oil in the mixture.
Pur03 Ozonated Oil w/Peppermint
This ozonated oil is fantastic for the mouth — it leaves the mouth feeling clean and fresh, even through the night.
The effects are most likely due to the presence of the essential oil and the ozone as much as the oil.
Swish olive oil or coconut oil for 5-10 minutes. Add essential oils (1-2 drops) to the mixture as desired.
7
Toothbrushes
It’s important to replace your toothbrush (or electric brush head) very frequently — every 2-3 months, minimum.
It doesn’t make sense to reduce pathogenic presence in the mouth, only to reintroduce it with each brushing.
Cleaning A Toothbrush
To reduce microbial life on your toothbrush, soak it once per week for about 10-20 minutes in one of the following solutions:
A toothbrush should still be replaced on time, even with regular weekly sterilization.
Clean toothbrush weekly. Replace Every few months.
8
Conclusion
The health of the mouth is a key component of gut health as well as the function of the entire body.
Oral and dental health commonly suffers in chronic illness and aging.
In both scenarios, it is imperative to support the body’s immune system by continually improving the microbial health of the mouth — to keep it clean.
RECAP: The steps for sustainably improving oral health
Tooth powder swishing after each meal or snack is a potent first step toward better oral health.
A solid, multi-step evening routine that includes 1) flossing, 2) brushing, and 3) swishing is essential. This routine is also useful in the morning.
Creating your own charcoal swish (possibly with neem powder) can be a fantastic step to augment your regimen.
Using ozoneorfluoride several times per week (or both) could improve the oral microbiome drastically — especially in the more compromised mouth typically seen in severe immunosuppression or aging.
Nutrients For Oral Health
3 Rules of Nutrient Supplementation
The fat-soluble vitamins are vital to the health of the teeth and gums, as is Vitamin C.
Minerals are also foundational to the health of the teeth, and as with all nutrients, they must be in balance with each other as well.
It’s important to understand how to obtain these nutrients in a balanced and thoughtful way. Overnutrition and imbalance can be just as detrimental as nutrient deficiency.
Read more.
Dental Professionals
Of course, dental professionals and regular checkups are entirely necessary to fix any broken teeth, dental fillings or prosthetics.
Root canals essentially leave dead material inside the mouth, and as such is very prone to rotting. Decay indicates the presence of pathogens — always — and this means infection and illness.
Because microbes and pathogens so easily work their way inside existing dental work it is paramount to diligently keep the mouth exceptionally clean.
Ask pertinent questions of your dental providers. Respectfully get a feel for their competence. Improperly installed dental work can lead to infectious issues down the road — and all the chronic diseases that come with infection.
Uncle Harry’s Natural Remineralization Kit
If you’re looking for a starter pack — this is an excellent brand to check out. Several of my clients have reported excellent results.
As your awareness of EMFs grows, it’s best to have the single-best weapon you can find.
It’s not shielding fabrics, pendants, or salt lamps. It’s absolutely an EMF meter.
An EMF meter can give you a picture of EMF levels in your immediate location, and observe in real-time the effect of the Inverse Square Law of Physics — which states that any exposure from any type of EMF will diminish by 75% when you double the distance from the source.
EMFs are present everywhere, but they are not present everywhere in equal intensity. You may find lower EMF levels in an urban basement than a modern, rural kitchen. With an EMF meter you can actually know what’s around and assaulting your body.
Not all EMF meters are created equal, however. Let’s explore the best two options for most people, and see how they compare.
1
Cornet ED88T Plus
(Three-Mode Meter)
The most versatile and the most affordable meter on the market.
This meter is a solid gadget and, I think, the best option on the market for most people trying to educate themselves about EMF.
You can spend thousands of dollars on EMF meters — one for each specific frequency range and type of field.
The Cornet is a jack-of-all trades — measuring the three main types of EMF field:
wireless (radio-frequency/microwaves)
magnetic
electric fields.
The meter will display one field at a time; you simply toggle between modes.
There is a learning curve as you become familiar with reading the numbers, but it isn’t terribly complicated.
A multi-colored light bulb indicates how high the readings are.
Give yourself about a week to get used to using this meter, and before long you’ll be a skilled veteran in the world of EMFs.
You’ll need to point the meter directly at the source to receive the most accurate reading. If you don’t know the source, hold the meter in one place and rotate around the room or area. The highest reading can suggest the direction of the source of the radiation.
This meter won’t measure 5G, but that’s okay — if you’re in an area with lots of cell tower radiation, this meter will tell you. 5G is hardly the only frequency spectrum to be aware of. 4G and 3G can be just as problematic, and they’ll always be present wherever 5G is. This meter picks up 4G and 3G amazingly well.
PROs:
Three modes (RF, Magnetic, Electric)
Affordable
Excellent accuracy for the price
Acoustic feature (you can hear the frequency’s pulses and intensity)
CONs:
Must point meter toward source of electric field (not a big deal at all)
Must wave meter around when measuring magnetic fields and look for highest reading (only a small deal)
Not as accurate as thousand-dollar professional instruments.
Doesn’t measure 5G
RATING: 8.7/10
Simply incredible bang for the buck, compared to other options. You’ll have to spend much, much more to beat this machine.
2
TriField EMF Meter Model TF2
(Three-Mode Meter)
The TriField is the gold standard for entry-level multi-meters.
The “Tri” represents the capability to measure the three types of EMF: RF (wireless), magnetic, and electric.
The knock on the TriField is that it is — while great — not quite as accurate as other options (like the Cornet). That doesn’t mean it can’t give you a fantastic “general idea” of what’s going on in your immediate environment, though.
No cheaper, multi-meter is perfect — you have to spend loads of money (hundreds and thousands) to get highly accurate readings. The Cornet isn’t perfect, either — but for similar money, the Cornet does offer a slightly clearer picture of what’s going on around you.
PROs:
Three modes (RF, magnetic, electric)
Affordable
Does the job
Acoustic mode (you can hear the frequency’s pulses and intensity)
The purpose of fogging, spraying, and ozoning is to improve living conditions temporarily.
These are not complete solutions for all mold growth. No single product will truly eradicate all existing mold in a building.
However, frequent cleaning and applications of disinfectant products can noticeably help in a moldy environment. Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential for the prevention of mold in the first place.
Companies who claim that their products can eradicate mold issues entirely should not be trusted.
For a building to be officially safe, mold growth must be completely removed and remediated, all moisture intrusion and excessive humidity must be stopped, and contaminated materials must be safely removed from the premises.
1
Cleaning/Disinfectant Products
These products can be applied via foggers and sprayers to combat mold growth on surfaces.
These products can be applied using sprayer bottles, cloths, or foggers and allowed to dry on surfaces or wiped clean.
1
Concrobium
Best For:
Concrobium is best for severely moldy situations, in hard-to-clean crawl spaces, attics, HVAC systems, & moldier homes. This is due to more aggressive anti-mold action and the fact that Concrobium is designed to remain on surfaces long-term, killing and sealing mold underneath a layer of hardened product.
How It Works:
Concrobium actually encapsulates and suffocates (& crushes) mold, killing it.
The product is designed to invisibly remain on surfaces indefinitely, acting as a mold deterrent.
How To:
Apply via sprayer, cloth, or fogger and leave on surface indefinitely.
Note:
Concrobium highly recommends reapplying another coat if you wipe up residue, to prevent more mold growth.
NOT an all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant.
2
Benefect Decon 30
Best FOr:
Benefect Decon 30 is best for non-porous, hard surfaces where mold growth can be properly removed — as well as prevention.
How It Works:
100% natural, essential oil-based thymol is the active ingredient. It is a potent disinfectant.
How To Apply:
Apply via sprayer, cloth, or fogger and leave on surface for at least 30 seconds before wiping up.
Benefect claims there is no need to remove the product by wiping it — even on food-prep surfaces. The product will dissipate.
For all-purpose cleaning and disinfecting.
3
Vital Oxide
Best For:
Vital Oxide is best for non-porous, hard surfaces where mold growth can be properly removed — as well as prevention.
HOW IT WORKS:
Powerful ammonium compounds oxidize and disinfect surfaces, safely.
Vital Oxide claims there is no need to wipe up — even on food-prep surfaces. The product will dissipate over a few weeks.
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply via sprayer, cloth, or fogger and leave on surface -or- wipe up after several minutes.
For all-purpose cleaning and disinfecting.
4
EC3
BEST FOR:
EC3 is best for any room or building that causes an immune reaction.
HOW IT WORKS:
This product uses citrus seed extracts.
EC3 doesn’t really make specific claims about disinfection.
EC3 is marketed specifically for mold — whereas Benefect and Vital Oxide are all-purpose cleaners and disinfectant.
HOW TO APPLY:
EC3 Mold Solution needs to be diluted with water and then “misted” by a spray bottle or fogger.
It makes 1 gallon of product — similar to the others on this list.
NOTE:
EC3 recommends using HEPA vacuum after application to remove spores.
NOT an all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant. Company claims: “EC3 is used to manage mold counts indoors” — but no claims of disinfection are made.
My favorite: Benefect Decon 30.
Vital Oxide is a very close second (and cheaper).
Concrobium is best for porous surfaces and heavy mold growth (which should be remediated).
For everyday cleaning, use…
Microfiber Towels
Microfiber fabric has an incredible surface area and holds up to 100x more moisture and dirt than typical cloth. This makes cleaning with microfiber much more effective and efficient. Microbes and spores are better trapped by microfiber than traditional cloth.
2
Foggers
Foggers disperse a mist uniformly around an area.
They are usually placed in a room for a session, though they can be used as a handheld.
Many foggers seem to be made by one manufacturer and sold by various companies under different labels.
1
Concrobium Fogger
View on Amazon.
This has great reviews — but looks very similar to the “TriJet”, which is cheaper.
VIDEO Demonstration:
2
EC3 Fogger
View on Amazon.
This has all the same qualities as the rest of the foggers.
There are reports of questionable construction on these.
VIDEO Demonstration:
3
B&G Ultra Lite 2400 Fogger
View at Sears.com.
This might be the most rugged, well-built option.
The upgraded model (2600) has a hose for more portable spraying:
B&G Flex-A-Lite 2600
VIDEO Demonstration:
4
“TriJet” ULV Fogger
View on Amazon.
Great reviews, and usually cheaper than the Concrobium Fogger, despite most likely being the exact same product.
VIDEO Demonstration:
All of these can be carried by hand and applied to specific areas — but you’ll probably need an extension cord.
The BioBalance Fogger
There’s another fogger out there: The BioBalance Fogger. This product may be well-made. However, I have a few reservations about the product for these reasons:
BUNDLED — You cannot purchase the product on the website without also buying their $100 cleaning product.
OVERHYPE — The BioBalance website speaks as though fogging is a total, complete solution for mold growth.
OVERHYPE — They claim their product will kill mold inside walls after a single treatment.
All of these claims lead me to not trust the company. Therefore even though it’s possible their products might be great, these observations do not invoke trust. I’d love to be proven wrong. Perhaps they can address these issues at some point.
3
Cordless Electrostatic Sprayers
Electrostatic spraying is a remarkable technology that uses electricity to deliver a perfectly-even coating while using very little product.
These electrostatic sprayers achieve perfectly-even coverage, while using much less product, and now offer easy, cordless operation.
These sprayers seem to be made by one manufacturer and sold by various companies under their different brand names.
1
Victory Sprayer
2
Protexus PX200ES
3
Marketlab Sprayer
Electrostatic Technology
The technology is fabulous: Electrostatic spraying allows you to entirely coat a surface — perfectly and evenly — while using minimum product (whether disinfectant cleaner or paint or something else).
People who use these sprayers rave about how well they disinfect rooms, as well as their unparalleled usability.
Industry folks love these products and have apparently used them for years without problems.
I’m hoping more similar products will enter the market. There’s a real need for them.
Electrostatic Sprayer
Video Demonstrations
4
Ozone Machines
Ozone is a potent oxidizer, second only to fluorine gas in nature.
It breaks down chemicals on contact and is powerfully antimicrobial against all manner of microbial life on surfaces and in the air.
Ozone breaks down mold’s mycotoxins and noxious VOC’s, as well as retards its growth. Ozone will kill bugs and break down the toxic chemicals in industrial and home products.
Ozone gas has been proven to kill the SARS coronavirus and since the structure of the new 2019-nCoV coronavirus is almost identical to that of the SARS coronavirus, it is relatively safe to say that it will also work on the new coronavirus.
Ozone generators usually describe their output in terms of milligrams per hour.
7000+ MG/hr
A more powerful ozone generator will create 7000-10,000 mg of ozone in one hour.
For larger living spaces.
3000 MG/hr
Smaller units will create 3000 mg per hour.
For normal-sized rooms.
Like the other products listed above, ozone machines are often made by the same manufacturer and marketed as different brands.
Unfortunately, ozone machines tend to come and go online. It’s also possible the current trade wars (and now global pandemic) are temporarily affecting the availability of products, too. Hopefully, we can start recommending specific products again, soon.
Fortunately, I’ve had good results with five different ozone machines on Amazon.
An ozone generator doesn’t have to cost hundreds to perform well. The lower tier of $80-100 USD provides great quality.
The more expensive items aren’t any more durable. Based on my experience with these products, a unit will likely last you for 18 months to 2 years. After that, the ozone plates can be replaced for roughly $20. It may be a hassle to disassemble the machine and replace the plates.
Airthereal 10,000mg
Click to view on Amazon.
10,000 mg/hr is extremely powerful — more powerful than most homes need.
Has a “hold” feature for maximum dosage, long-duration ozone sessions.
Airthereal 5000mg
Click to view on Amazon.
5000 mg/hr is quite powerful. Several years ago, it was the strongest available.
Has a “hold” feature for maximum dosage, long-duration ozone sessions.
What About This Style?
You may have seen many products that look like this.
Don’t get this. Get a real air purifier instead (and maybe a wall-outlet mini-ozone generator for low-level ozone emissions).
The upside? They can release small amounts of ozone continually, which can retard mold growth.
However, they are usually quite limited in their air purification capabilities.
A better purchase will be a quality air purifier or wall-outlet mini-ozone generator — like this one. This releases a small, adjustable amount of ozone continually.
This is an excellent choice for bathrooms and intermittent use in other areas around the house.
How Frequently Should I Ozone?
Moldy Situation
In a very moldy situation, all spaces should be ozoned weekly. Move the generator from room to room, close the doors, and treat the space for 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the size of the room. Treat moldy spaces more aggressively, for longer durations each session.
Prevention
For prevention, ozone each space once per month. In prevention, shorter durations for each session are adequate.
Be Sure To Ventilate Afterward
“Air out” the space after ozone treatment.
This is critical to remove the chemicals that have been broken down by ozone. Sometimes harmful chemicals break down to even more harmful chemicals. They must not become trapped in the space.
If the smell of the ozone is bothersome, the only real answer is to aggressively air out the room for many hours at a time. Put box fans in windows and create a cross-flow to turn over the indoor air. For especially sensitive people, it can take a day or more for a room to become tolerable again. If this is you, only ozone for 5-10 minutes at a time — even short sessions are beneficial.
Sometimes, the materials in a room can determine how strong the ozone smell lingers. Oftentimes, porous items will absorb the ozone smell the most, especially certain synthetic fabrics.
When ozone odor is especially strong — clinging to porous or synthetic fabrics — the only answer is additional, extremely intense airing-out. It can take 24-36 hours of airing out to fully remove the odor. Create a cross-draft by opening two windows on opposite ends of the space. Utilize box fans in one or both windows to encourage air flow.
Read more about cleaning for mold and a healthier indoor environment.
