Doctors Say To Stop Using Toilet Paper

When nature calls, all we think of is to rush to answer it. Our toilet time is also our only source of ‘me-time’ and, hence, a precious one. All we have in mind while sitting on the throne is to catch up on messages or read magazines that we surreptitiously subscribe to. Once the job is done, our mind almost mechanically reaches out for the toilet paper and finishes the drill. It’s a timeless routine we’re all familiar with, aren’t we?

Toilet paper is a very vital part of our lives, perhaps as much as oxygen. And when I say this I mean it! After all, you wouldn’t ever be embarrassed of running out of oxygen, but you surely would if you ran out of toilet paper!

But have you ever given a thought to how toilet paper is manufactured? The fact that it might go through some harsh and rigorous treatments before it transforms into the pristine white toilet paper you so faithfully use?

And shouldn’t that concern you?

Additionally, most parents we know take utmost care of their little angels. And one of their cardinal rules is to never replace baby wipes with toilet paper for cleaning their little one’s buttocks. Haven’t you ever wondered why it is okay to use toilet paper for adults, but very unsafe for little ones?

Now, this is getting scary, isn’t it? Well, the idea isn’t to scare you, but to keep you posted. And here’s the update – doctors these days are recommending against the use of toilet paper. Read on to know why.

Toilet Paper: A Threat To Our Well-Being

The toilet paper that one uses should logically be brown in colour since it is made from wood, but it is white! It would be disturbing to know that the toilet paper that we use is actually bleached with chlorine and chlorine dioxide. These chemicals are carcinogenic in nature, thus posing a threat to human life.

Usage of toilet paper is especially riskier for women as compared to men. Toilet paper doesn’t clean as well as water and a lot of bacteria are left behind. According to a recently published study, a group of American doctors concluded that toilet paper only helps move or displace the faeces, it doesn’t actually remove it. This makes women more prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) because the bacteria can be moved towards the urethra (1).

Dr. Rose George, author of the book The Big Necessity, explains that toilet paper isn’t as efficient at eliminating faeces as people believe. “I find it amazing to find that millions of people walk around with dirty buttocks when they think they are clean. Toilet paper doesn’t completely remove it.” States George (2). Thus usage of toilet paper means inviting more and more infections.

It’s not all about the issue of cleanliness that bothers the medical fraternity, there is a lot more to worry about as well. Doctors are also of the opinion that extensive use of toilet paper for cleaning one’s anus causes soreness in the area and could lead to haemorrhoids in the rectum (3).

An Increasingly Bigger Threat To The Environment

Not only is toilet paper expensive, it can also clog the drainage system. In fact, countries such as Japan, Italy, and Greece have already deployed bidets on a large scale, thus almost nullifying the usage of toilet paper. According to studies, close to 90% of toilets in these progressive nations now have bidets in them. By the way, if you are thinking as to what a bidet is, it’s nothing but a sink like structure that washes one’s posterior after the job is done.

So, What Does One Do Now?

While using toilet paper is like second nature to most of us, this second nature needs to be discarded as soon as possible. Dry toilet paper is riskier than wet due to the friction it creates. But using it after making it wet can be rather tough as, once damp, toilet paper has a tendency to disintegrate. Additionally, there are chances that the wet tissue could get stuck in one’s rectum, leading to a lot of discomfort and further complications. Hence, getting a bidet fixed or using water is far safer and hassle-free.

Toilet paper, albeit used since times immemorial, doesn’t seem like the wisest and most hygienic of choice for our nether regions anymore. Not only does it contain carcinogenic substances, which we allow to make direct contact with our private parts, it is also heavy on Mother Nature as well as our wallets.

While it’s important that everyone ought to be minimizing the use of toilet paper, it is women who need to ditch this practice the most. Hence, we caution all readers to review their hygiene habits and make a change for good. Best of luck!

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Chandrama Deshmukh

   

Creativity has no limits. And words have no barriers. Together they can create magic, bridge all gaps.I work with words. Words that sound great, words that make sense, words that sell and words that tell..

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