A doctor has revealed why wiping your bum with toilet paper after going to the toilet may not be enough to clear the stool.
Dr. Poonam Desai, an emergency room 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 clean themselves properly after they poop.
Dr. Desai then discussed the benefits of washing your butt instead of just wiping it with toilet paper, the method most Americans prefer.
Dr. Poonam Desai, an emergency room and lifestyle medicine doctor from New York City, went viral on TikTok after asking viewers if they clean themselves properly after they poop
“If you use toilet paper, it can sometimes leave a residual odor and even leave fecal matter behind,” she explained. “If you want to clean yourself more hygienically after defecating, try washing with water.”
“Water can help remove some of the residual fecal matter left on the hairs, and it can even help remove the residual odor associated with wiping with toilet paper.”
There are countless ways to wash up after going to the bathroom, with the most popular international option being the bidet.
The specialized plumbing device that sprays water out to clean your underworld 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 with “a cup of water, a spray bottle, a free-standing bidet next to the toilet, or a washcloth attached to the toilet seat,” according to Life Hacker.
Cleanliness is not the only reason why people should consider washing with water instead of just wiping with toilet paper.
Aggressive wiping is 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 entering the urethra.
Miki Agrawal, the Canadian founder of Thinx underwear and the bidet company Tushy, believes people should cut back on toilet paper altogether.
Dr. Desai went on to discuss the benefits of washing your buttocks instead of just wiping with toilet paper, the method most Americans prefer.
“If you use toilet paper, it can sometimes leave a residual odor and even leave fecal matter behind,” she explained. ‘If you want to clean yourself more hygienically after defecating, try washing with water’
There are countless ways to wash up after going to the bathroom, with the most popular international option being the bidet
Dr. Desai’s washing versus wiping video has been viewed more than 383,000 times and has received hundreds of comments since its publication on Aug. 20.
“We always ask people: If you had poop on your hands or arm, would you wipe it off with dry paper or would you wash it off with water? Ninety-nine percent of people will say they wash it with water. The remaining 1 percent are mostly pathological contrarians who can’t help themselves,” she said.
“Imagine hopping in the shower, NOT turning on the water tap and just using dry toilet paper to wipe off your dirtiest bits? People would think you’re crazy…so why do we do that with the dirtiest part of our bodies: our buttocks?’ she added.
Dr. Desai’s washing vs wiping video has been viewed more than 383,000 times and received hundreds of comments since the video was posted on Aug. 20.
‘Washing has been done for thousands of years in Asian countries. Wipe and then wash,” one commented.
“Toilet paper and baby wipe to finish. Don’t feel clean otherwise,” said another.
“Most countries use water or a combination of toilet paper and water, but not all in America,” someone else noted.