Emergency room doctor Poonam Desai (yes, that is her real name) has shared some tips for something most of us don’t give much thought too – wiping your bum.
For starters, she says simply using plain, dry toilet paper may not be enough. She suggests using water to clean your butt as well.
“If you’re using toilet paper, sometimes it can leave a residual smell and even leave residual fecal matter,’ she told the Daily Mail.
“If you want a more hygienic way of cleaning yourself after you defecate, try washing with water. Water can help remove some of the residual fecal matter left on hairs, and it can even help remove that residual smell that comes with wiping with toilet paper.”
Dr Desai recommends installing a bidet, but if that’s not an option, then baby wipes or even very lightly dampened toilet paper are better than nothing. The gold standard would be showering after going number two, but that isn’t always an option.
As for wiping technique, Dr Desai says wiping front to back is important, especially for women, as this reduces the risk of fecal matter to the urethra, causing urinary tract infections.
She also cautioned against wiping too aggressively, as you run the risk of causing painful anal fissures or haemorroids.
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