A doctor has discovered why wiping your butt with toilet paper after using the toilet may not be enough to remove feces.
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 pooping.
dr Desai went on to elaborate on the benefits of butt washing instead of just wiping yourself with toilet paper, the method most Americans prefer.
dr Poonam Desai, a New York City-based emergency room and lifestyle medicine physician, went viral on TikTok after asking viewers if they clean themselves properly after pooping
“Sometimes when you use toilet paper, there can be residual odor and even fecal residue,” she explained. “If you want to clean yourself more hygienically after a bowel movement, try water.”
“Water can help remove some of the feces left on the hair, and it can even help get rid of the residual odor that comes from wiping with toilet paper.”
There are numerous ways to wash after using the toilet, with the internationally most popular option being the bidet.
The special plumbing faucet that ejects water to clean your abdominal regions is used in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but has yet to catch on in the Americas.
If you don’t have a bidet installed in your bathroom, you can still wash with “a cup of water, a squirt bottle, a standalone bidet next to the toilet, or shower gel attached to the toilet seat,” according to LifeHacker.
Cleanliness isn’t the only reason people should consider washing with water instead of just wiping with toilet paper.
Aggressive wiping is known to cause health problems like anal fissures and hemorrhoids. Research also shows that bidets can protect women from urinary tract infections caused by bacteria entering the urethra.
Miki Agrawal, the Canadian founder of Thinx period underwear and bidet company Tushy, thinks people should reduce their use of toilet paper overall.
dr Desai went on to elaborate on the benefits of butt washing instead of just wiping yourself with toilet paper, the method most Americans prefer
“Sometimes when you use toilet paper, there can be residual odor and even fecal residue,” she explained. “If you want to clean yourself more hygienically after a bowel movement, try water.”
There are numerous ways to wash after using the toilet, with the internationally most popular option being the bidet
dr Desai’s washing versus wiping video has been viewed more than 383,000 times since it was posted on August 20 and has garnered hundreds of comments
“We always ask people, if you have feces on your hands or arm, would you wipe it off with dry paper or wash it off with water?” 99 percent of people would say they wash it with water. The other 1 percent are usually pathological adversaries who can’t help themselves,” she said.
“Imagine jumping in the shower, NOT turning the water on, and just using dry toilet paper to wipe your dirtiest spots? “People would think you were crazy… So why are we doing this to the dirtiest part of our bodies — our butt?” she added.
dr Desai’s washing versus wiping video has been viewed more than 383,000 times since it was posted on August 20 and has garnered hundreds of comments.
“Washing has been practiced in Asian countries for thousands of years. Wipe and then wash,” one person commented.
“Toilet paper and baby wipes to finish.” “Don’t feel clean otherwise,” shared another.
“Most countries use water or a combination of toilet paper and water, but not all in America,” pointed out another.