A doctor has revealed why wiping your backside with toilet paper after you go to the bathroom may not be enough to remove fecal matter.
Dr. Poonam Desai, an ER and lifestyle medicine physician based in New York City, has more than 20,000 followers on TikTok, where she shares health tips.
The anti-aging and longevity expert went viral this week after asking viewers if they are cleaning themselves properly after they poop.
Dr. Desai went on to discuss the benefits of washing your behind rather than just wiping with toilet paper, the method preferred by most Americans.
Dr. Poonam Desai, an ER and lifestyle medicine physician based in New York City, went viral on TikTok after asking viewers if they are cleaning themselves properly after they poop
‘If you’re using toilet paper, sometimes it can leave a residual smell and even leave residual fecal matter,’ she explained. ‘If you want a more hygienic way of cleaning yourself after you defecate, try washing with water.’
‘Water can help remove some of the residual fecal matter left on hairs, and it can even help remove that residual smell that comes with wiping with toilet paper.’
There are numerous ways to wash after going to the bathroom, with the most popular international option being the bidet.
The specialized plumbing fixture that shoots out water to clean your nether regions is used in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but has yet to catch on in America.
If you don’t have a bidet installed in your bathroom, you can still wash using ‘a cup of water, a squirt bottle, a standalone bidet installed next to the toilet, or a washlet attached to the toilet seat,’ according to LifeHacker.
Cleanliness is not the only reason why people should consider washing with water instead of wiping with toilet paper alone.
Aggressive wiping has been known to cause health problems such as anal fissures and hemorrhoids. Research also shows that bidets can prevent women from developing urinary tract infections caused by bacteria getting into the urethra.
Miki Agrawal, the Canadian founder of Thinx period underwear and the bidet company Tushy, believes people should cut down on their toilet paper use altogether.
Dr. Desai went on to discuss the benefits of washing your behind rather than just wiping with toilet paper, the method preferred by most Americans
‘If you’re using toilet paper, sometimes it can leave a residual smell and even leave residual fecal matter,’ she explained. ‘If you want a more hygienic way of cleaning yourself after you defecate, try washing with water’
There are numerous ways to wash after going to the bathroom, with the most popular international option being the bidet
Dr. Desai’s video about washing versus wiping has been viewed more than 383,000 times and has received hundreds of comments since it was posted on August 20
‘We always ask people — if you got poop on your hands or arm, would you wipe it with dry paper or would you wash it with water? Ninety-nine percent of people will say they wash it with water. The other 1 percent are usually pathological contrarians who can’t help themselves,’ she said.
‘Imagine jumping in your shower, NOT turning the water on, and just using dry toilet paper to wipe down your dirtiest bits? People would think you’re crazy… so why are we doing that to the dirtiest part of our body — our butt?’ she added.
Dr. Desai’s video about washing versus wiping has been viewed more than 383,000 times and has received hundreds of comments since it was posted on August 20.
‘Washing has been going on for thousands of years in Asian countries. Wipe and then wash,’ one person commented.
‘Toilet paper and baby wipe to finish. Don’t feel clean otherwise,’ another shared.
‘Most countries use water or a combination of toilet paper and water but in America, not all,’ someone else pointed out.