Thousands are at risk of nasty infections because of the way they use toilet paper – experts explains what you’re doing wrong

It has long been debated whether toilet paper should be folded, padded, antibacterial, and used for wiping or patting.

And now some experts say it’s better not to use it at all.

According to Japanese scientists, replacing paper with a bidet – which washes the genitals and back passage with water instead of wiping – can dramatically reduce the risk of nasty infections.

The study, published in the 2022 Journal of Water & Health, found that those who used a bidet had ten times less harmful bacteria on their hands, compared to toilet paper users.

This, they say, makes Americans vulnerable to the potentially deadly bug C. difficile – a germ that causes diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease.

Statistics show that approximately 500,000 Americans become infected with C. difficile each year, with two-thirds of these cases linked to nursing homes.

15,000 to 30,000 people die in the US every year.

According to Dr Evan Goldstein, a rectal surgeon in New York City, says using a bidet is much better for infection control than paper.

“Charmin and all these brands have done a great job of making us think toilet paper is hygienic. It’s not,” the doctor told Insider.

But other experts say it’s not the toilet paper itself that’s the problem, but the way most people use it.

The wrong type of toilet paper and improper wiping can lead to irritation, hemorrhoids and even potentially fatal infections.

First, single-ply toilet paper is rougher on the skin than more expensive types — and can cause open wounds, increasing the risk of infection.

One-ply toilet paper is thinner and rougher than two-ply toilet paper, which can lead to irritation and hemorrhoids

Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, wrote for the Washingtonpost that single-ply toilet paper is very thin, so you’re more likely to use more to get the job done.

Repeated rubbing with this rough paper can lead to uncomfortable itching known as pruritus ani, she said.

Bleached toilet paper can also cause discomfort.

A Canadian case study It concerned a woman who had had irritation in her vulva – the outer part of the female genital organs – for four years, making it difficult for her to walk. When she traveled to Europe and used unbleached toilet paper, her symptoms improved.

Experts recommend strong, absorbent and soft toilet paper.

How you wipe can also affect your genital health.

Dr. Pasricha suggests dabbing paper around the back passage instead of wiping.

Research has shown that those who use a bidet after going to the bathroom are exposed to 10 times less bacteria than those who use toilet paper

Wiping can be rough on the skin and the delicate tissues just below the surface, leading to hemorrhoids, swollen veins in the rectum, and sometimes bleeding.

Doctors at Harvard Medical School have said, ‘Although the anal area should be cleaned after each bowel movement, this cleaning should be gentle. Aggressive rubbing and scrubbing, especially with soap or other skin cleansers, can irritate the skin and cause anal itching.”

Wiping from front to back is also important, especially for women.

This is because fecal bacteria could otherwise enter the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body, and cause a urinary tract infection.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) considers wiping in the right direction one of the best ways for women to prevent a urinary tract infection: “Any wiping motion that starts closer to the rectum and then approaches the area of ​​the bladder opening will potentially dangerous bacteria move closer to the bladder and urinary tract.’

UTIs are of particular concern to women because their urethra is shorter than men’s, making it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder.

Nearly one in three women will have had at least one urinary tract infection requiring prescription antibiotics by the time they turn 24, and nearly half of all women will experience one urinary tract infection in their lifetime.

Men are also prone to urinary tract infections, but not often, according to doctors at the Urology Center of Florida.

Another important tip is to close the lid before flushing.

A study found that not closing the lid first spread twelve times more C. difficile bacteria than when the lid was open.