A bidet is a hygienic bathroom appliance that sprays water onto your genitals and anus after using the toilet. Bidest has several potential benefits, including assisting people with disabilities and treating and preventing hemorrhoids. In contrast, the disadvantage is that bidets often take up space in the bathroom.
Bidets have long been popular in Europe and Asia, and in some cultures many people use them every time they go to the bathroom. More and more Americans are praising bidets, but are using them better for your health? Learn what they are and what benefits they offer.
Gan Chaonan/Getty Images
A bidet is an alternative to toilet paper. A bathroom appliance that sprays water to clean menstrual blood, feces, and urine from the genitals and anus after using the toilet. Some bidets blow warm air over the area to dry it. Bidets are very popular in European and Asian countries. For example, approximately 77.5 people in Japan use bidets every day.
There are several types of bidets, ranging from stand-alone appliances that sit next to the toilet to hand-held attachments. The bidets you can choose from are:
- Attachments: This is an electric bidet that attaches under the toilet seat. Attachments are usually easy to install and don’t take up much space in your bathroom. Because it is fixed to the toilet seat, the area that can be cleaned may be limited.
- Mobile device: It is a hose like a shower head that is separate from the toilet. You may need to use force to reach the genital or anal area. People with physical disabilities may benefit from other types of bidets.
- Standalone fixture: This device is installed next to the toilet and takes up space in the bathroom. You have to move from the toilet to the bidet to use it.
A bidet is an effective alternative to toilet paper to help clean the genital and anal areas. Still, is using a bidet more hygienic than wiping? Simply put, bidets are not necessarily more helpful or harmful than toilet paper for the average person, but they do have some benefits. There is a possibility.
1. Clean the wound
If you have a wound, you should wash your genitals and anal area especially well after using the toilet. Bidet water may not remove bacteria, but it does remove solids. Keep in mind that stool is not dangerous unless the skin is damaged. Dr. Labia de Latoursaid Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University Grossman School of Medicine. health.
2. May help and prevent hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swelling of the veins near the anus. If you have hemorrhoids, you may experience itching and pain in your anus when you sit. Some evidence suggests that bidets may reduce anal resting pressure. This pressure is common in people with underlying constipation and can lead to hemorrhoids in some cases. As a result, using a bidet may reduce or prevent hemorrhoids. Dr Saleem ChaudhryA gastroenterologist at the University Hospital Digestive Health Research Institute said: health.
3. Environmentally friendly
A bidet uses significantly less paper and water than toilet paper. Studies show that people in the United States use 36 billion rolls of toilet paper each year. It takes 36 gallons of water to make one roll of toilet paper. In contrast, with a bidet, he consumes only one-eighth of a gallon.
4. May help people with physical disabilities
If you are unable to dry yourself due to a disability, a bidet may be helpful, especially for older adults who are at higher risk of falls. For example, people who are bedridden or have disabilities may benefit from using a bidet, Dr. de Latour said. Some evidence suggests that using a bidet may also be more comfortable for people who are pregnant or have just given birth.
5. It may be more hygienic than wiping.
To wipe, you need to use your hands to wipe the toilet paper over the genital and anal areas. Feces and toilet paper from your body can be transferred to your hands and under your fingernails. As a result, disease-causing bacteria can spread to yourself and others.
In contrast, a bidet involves a hands-free device that uses water to clean the area. Even if you use a bidet, keep in mind that it’s important to wash your hands after using the toilet.
Although using a bidet is usually safe, it can be dangerous if used incorrectly. For example, if you have ulcerated skin near your genitals or anus, try to keep water pressure low, Dr. de Latour said. High water pressure can worsen skin tears and increase the risk of infection.
Using a bidet can disrupt the balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in your vagina, increasing your risk of infection. A study published in 2017 found that people who regularly use bidets are slightly more likely to develop bacterial vaginosis than those who don’t use bidets. Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina.
Still, the researchers noted that the differences were not significant enough to draw any conclusions. More research is needed to find out how bidet use affects vaginal health.
It is important to use your bidet correctly to reduce the risk of infection. Before you cleanse yourself, be sure to check the equipment and adjust the water pressure.
Here are some other tips for using a bidet:
- Cleanse from front to back. Since stool comes out through the anus, there is no need to worry about bacteria getting into it. In contrast, you don’t want bacteria to reach your urethra. Bacteria entering the urethra from the anus increases the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). A UTI is an infection of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra.
- Clean and disinfect your bidet regularly. This helps minimize the spread of germs.
- When using public bidets, please keep the following in mind: Studies have shown that bacterial colonies often form in public bidets. Before using your handheld device, wipe it clean with a napkin or toilet paper.
- How to wipe after using the bidet: This ensures that all stool, menstrual blood, and urine are removed. Be careful not to use towels near the bidet. It’s for wiping your hands, not your genitals or anus.
A bidet is a standalone appliance, attachment, or handheld device that sprays water to cleanse the genital and anal areas after using the toilet. A bidet allows you to cleanse your body of feces, menstrual blood, and urine. People with hemorrhoids, physical disabilities, or those who have recently given birth may benefit more from using a bidet than others.
Regular use of a bidet can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina, increasing your risk of infection. Still, the research is not conclusive. Be sure to use low water pressure and clean and disinfect your bidet from time to time.