Why You've Been Wiping Your Bum Wrong This Whole Time
How do you clean your bum? Up or down? Bunched up or folded paper? Turns out you're probably doing it wrong.
Speaking to Tonic, author of The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters, says toilet paper isn't quite doing the job.
"I find it rather baffling that millions of people are walking around with dirty anuses while thinking they are clean," says George." Toilet paper moves shit, but it doesn't remove it."
And it seems the experts agree. Speaking to Shape, gastroenterologist Dr John Cluley agrees that toilet paper won't give your bum a thorough clean, but also warns it can cause self-harm applying a rough texture to such a sensitive area.
"Haemorrhoids are a big one, and these occur in people of all ages," says the Texas-based practitioner.
"Anal Fissures can develop, and toilet paper is not beneficial for that. Pruitus ani is essentially itchy butt, and that can come from poor hygiene. And women are prone to getting a UTI if that area is not properly cleaned. If you're a healthy person in general and you have poor butt health, any of those conditions can develop out of nothing."
if you're looking to keep your bum-health in check, It's time to ditch the toilet paper and invest in a bidet. If you're concerned about your bowel movements as well, check out the $50 product promising to help you poo better.
