Stop using toilet paper and use wet wipes instead, say doctors
Otherwise you could be left with some worrying health problems
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Using toilet paper doesn’t clean our derrières properly and could cause worrying health problems, experts warn.
While countries like Japan, Italy and Greece commonly use bidets to clean themselves, countries such as Britain, the U.S. and Australia typically rely on toilet paper to get the job done.
But now doctors are warning that wiping alone could leave faeces behind while excessive use could cause health problems such as anal fissures and urinary tract infections.
“I find it rather baffling that millions of people are walking around with dirty anuses while thinking they are clean,” Rose George, author of The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters, told Tonic.
“Toilet paper moves s***, but it doesn’t remove it.”
While it might sound like a bizarre suggestion, George isn’t alone in her opinions about toilet paper with a host of celebs in agreement including Will Smith who hailed using wet wipes as “special and incredible.”
Speaking to Elle Magazine, rapper and singer Will.i.am said, “Here’s proof on why people should have baby wipes.
“Get some chocolate, wipe it on a wooden floor, and then try to get it up with some dry towels. You’re going to get chocolate in the cracks.
“That’s why you gotta get them baby wipes.”
But cleanliness isn’t the only reason people should consider using alternatives to toilet paper.
Aggressive wiping can cause painful anal fissures which can take eight to 12 weeks to heal and even haemorrhoids.
Another hazard of wiping is the possibility of getting a urinary tract infection.
If people wipe from back-to-front they are pulling bacteria from the anus towards the front of the body.
As such, by using alternatives like a bidet or using a wet wipe, the bacteria are killed or rinsed away which prevents it from causing an infection.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments