Is a Bidet Really Better Than Wiping? (2024)

A bidet is a sanitary bathroom appliance that sprays water on your genitals and anus after you use the toilet. There are several possible benefits of a bidet, such as helping those with physical disabilities and treating and preventing hemorrhoids. In contrast, one downside is that bidets often take up space in your bathroom.

Bidets have long been popular in Europe and Asia, and many people in some cultures use a bidet after every toilet visit. More Americans are singing the bidet's praises, but is it healthier to use a bidet? Read on to learn what a bidet is and what the possible benefits are.

A bidet is an alternative to toilet paper. This bathroom appliance sprays water to cleanse your genitals and anus of menstrual blood, stool, and urine after you use the toilet. Some bidets also spray warm air to those areas to dry. Bidets are very prevalent in European and Asian countries. For example, about 77.5 of people use a bidet daily in Japan.

Types

There are several types of bidets, ranging from standalone fixtures that install next to your toilet to handheld attachments. Here's a look at the bidets that you might choose from:

• Attachment: This is an electric bidet that attaches underneath your toilet seat. An attachment is usually easy to install and does not take up space in your bathroom. The area you are able to cleanse might be limited since the attachment is fixed to your toilet seat.
• Handheld device: This is a shower head-like hose that's separate from your toilet. You might need to strain to reach your genital and anal regions with the device. People with physical disabilities may benefit from other types of bidets.
• Standalone fixture: This device, which is installed next to your toilet, takes up space in your bathroom. You'll need to move from the toilet to the bidet to use it.

Bidets are an effective alternative to toilet paper that help cleanse the genital and anal regions. Still, is using a bidet more sanitary than wiping? The short answer: Bidets are not necessarily more helpful or harmful than toilet paper for the average person, but they might have some benefits.

1. Cleans Sores

You'll need to cleanse your genital and anal regions particularly well after using the toilet if you have sores. The water from a bidet might not remove bacteria, but it removes solid matter. Keep in mind that stool is not dangerous as long as there are no breaks in your skin, Rabia De Latour, MD, an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told Health.

2. Helps With and Might Prevent Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins near your anus. You might have anal itching or pain while sitting if you have hemorrhoids. Some evidence suggests that a bidet can reduce anal resting pressure, which is typically seen in people with underlying constipation and can sometimes lead to hemorrhoids. As a result, using a bidet might provide relief from and prevent hemorrhoids, Saleem Chowdhry, MD, a gastroenterologist at the University HospitalsDigestive Health Institute, told Health.

3. Is Environmentally Friendly

A bidet uses significantly less paper and water than toilet paper. Research has shown that people in the United States use 36 billion rolls of toilet paper per year. One roll of toilet paper takes 36 gallons of water to make. In contrast, using a bidet only uses one-eighth of one gallon.

4. May Help People With Physical Disabilities

A bidet may be helpful if you are unable to wipe due to a physical disability, especially older adults with a high risk of falling. For example, people who are bed-bound or handicapped might benefit from using a bidet, said Dr. De Latour. Some evidence suggests that using a bidet may also provide comfort for pregnant people or those who recently gave birth.

5. Might Be More Sanitary Than Wiping

Wiping requires using your hand to swipe toilet paper across your genital and anal regions. Fecal matter from your body or toilet paper might transfer to your hands and underneath your nails. As a result, germs that cause illness might spread to yourself and others.

In contrast, a bidet involves a hands-free device that uses water to cleanse those areas. Keep in mind that it's important to wash your hands after using the toilet, even if you use a bidet.

Risks

Using a bidet is generally safe, but there might be some risks if you use it incorrectly. For example, make sure to keep the water pressure low if you have ulcerated skin on or near your genitals or anus, said Dr. De Latour. High water pressure may aggravate tears in your skin, increasing infection risk.

Using a bidet might disrupt the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria in the vagin*, increasing infection risk. A study published in 2017 found that regular bidet users had slightly more bacterial vaginitis cases than those who did not. Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagin*.

Still, the researchers noted that the difference is not significant enough to draw any conclusions. More studies are needed to know how bidet use impacts vagin*l health.

It's essential that you use a bidet correctly to reduce infection risk. Remember to check the device and adjust the water pressure before you cleanse yourself.

Other tips for using a bidet include:

• Cleanse front to back: Stool comes out of your anus, so there's no issue with bacteria entering it. In contrast, you'll want to avoid that bacteria reaching your urethra. Your urinary tract infection (UTI) risk increases if bacteria from your anus enter your urethra. A UTI is an infection of your kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra.
• Regularly clean and disinfect a bidet: This helps minimize the spread of bacteria.
• Take precautions if you use a public bidet: Research has found that bacteria colonies often form on public bidets. Clean a handheld device with a napkin or toilet paper before using it.
• Wipe after bidet use: This helps ensure that you remove all fecal matter, menstrual blood, or urine. Just remember not to use the towel near a bidet. That's for wiping your hands, not your genitals or anus.

A Quick Review

A bidet is a standalone fixture, attachment, or handheld device that sprays water to cleanse your genital and anal regions after using the toilet. You can use a bidet to cleanse your body of fecal matter, menstrual blood, and urine. Those with hemorrhoids and physical disabilities or who recently gave birth might benefit from using a bidet more than others.

Regularly using a bidet might disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in your vagin*, increasing infection risk. Still, research is inconclusive. Make sure to use a low water pressure and clean and disinfect your bidet every now and then.