A bidet is a fixture in a bathroom that uses a spray of water to rinse you off after you've used the restroom. For a long time, bidets were commonplace in the toilets of many homes in Europe, South America, and Asia.
There has been a recent uptick in the bidet's popularity in the US due to assertions that they are better for the environment and personal hygiene.
You will probably need less toilet paper if you use a bidet; that much is true. However, the assertion that it is more hygienic than a flush toilet may not be as straightforward as it first seems. To find out whether bidets are more sanitary than toilet paper, let's examine what is known about them.
What The Science Says About The Health Risks Of Bidets
The main worry with bidet use is the possibility of germs and virus organisms in the device's nozzle. Two hundred fifty-four out of two hundred ninety-two bidet toilets at a Japanese university hospital tested positive for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms in 2017.
Of course, just because a bidet contains germs in its nozzle doesn't mean you're certain to become sick. Nonetheless, the prospect exists.
People who have vaginas may be more vulnerable to the health risks associated with bidding. In a healthy vagina, a bacterial community known as Lactobacillus thrives. These microbes serve as a defense mechanism for your vagina, protecting it from dangerous diseases like bacterial vaginosis.
Regular use of bidet toilets may disturb beneficial vaginal microbiota, according to a 2010 research of 268 women. Among those who use bidets, 42.86 percent did not have normal microflora (Lactobacillus spp.), compared to 8.77 percent of those who did not. Also, out of 268 women, 46 used bidets, whereas just four didn't, suggesting a correlation between the two groups.
Using a bidet should be carefully considered if you are pregnant. Pregnant women classified as "high-risk" who made frequent bidet usage were more likely to deliver before their due dates, according to a 2019 research.
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There isn't enough evidence from just a few research to draw any firm conclusions on the cleanliness of bidets or any specific health dangers they may provide. Another thing to remember is that much of the previous research used bidets at healthcare facilities.
It's feasible that using a bidet in the house, together with frequent cleaning, greatly reduces any potential concerns. According to these study findings, more research is necessary to understand the effects of bidets on human health properly.
How To Safely Use A Bidet
Always use your bidet correctly for the best hygienic effect.
Before using the bidet in a public place, switch on the nozzle to ensure it works. If you plan beforehand, you may avoid being wet and shocked by the direction the water is coming from. It is important always to use toilet paper or another appropriate method to clean the nozzle of a public bidet before using it.
When you have a vulva, it's important to constantly guide the water stream from front to back, much as when you wipe with toilet paper.
Don't use the towel hanging nearby to dry up your behind. The germs from other people's hands can be all over the towel you use to wipe your hands.
If your house has a bidet, be sure to clean the attachment or toilet gadget regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. You may run clean water over the nozzle's head daily using the cleaning option available on most nozzles.
Once a month, while it's set to this setting, wipe the interior of the nozzle. If you want your bidet to last as long as possible and prevent contamination, you should replace the filter every six months.
Types Of Bidets
Part of the reason bidets are growing in popularity is the variety of options available for them. You can never tell where you may find a portable or built-in bidet since so many varieties are popular in today's restrooms.
Freestanding Bidet
Here, we have the classic bidet design. Freestanding bidets resemble big, low sinks and are often installed beside standard toilets. There are freestanding bidets that come with jets and may be filled with water that rises to the bowl's surface.
Handheld Bidet
Nozzles connected to the toilet are handheld bidets, bidet showers, or bidet sprayers. To clean your genitalia and anus after using the restroom, having sex, or just to refresh yourself, you set this bidet near your private region by hand. Using a portable bidet, you may control the water jet's direction and intensity.
Built-In Bidet
Toilets that have a bidet function integrated into them are called built-in bidets. When you flush a toilet that also has a bidet, it could spray water in a vertical stream to clean you.
Warm Water Bidet
A warm water bidet may be installed in a bathroom or used as an attachment for a sprayer. You may get a more generous spray for your bottom whenever you use a warm water bidet; all you have to do is connect it to your hot water pipe system or install an in-built water warmer.
Caution: Regular Bidet Use Could Increase Your Exposure To Certain Pathogens
According to some studies, you may be more vulnerable to some infections if you use the bidet often. In public restrooms with shared bidets, this can happen more often.
Proper bidet usage is essential if you own one in your house. To ensure its continued use and safety, clean and maintain it as directed (and sanitary).
Even if bidets are a fantastic substitute for toilet paper, it doesn't imply they're completely risk-free. Not everyone can safely use a bidet, so those with compromised immune systems may wish to hold off for a while.
Using a bidet before going to the bathroom could irritate your anus if you're a man.
Bacterial vaginitis is more likely to occur in those who use bidets and have feminine genitalia. According to at least one research, the use of a warm water bidet disrupts the vaginal microbiome.
According to a 2017 hospital research, electric warm water bidets also pose a general risk of bacterial contamination.
Tips For Use
- Make sure you inspect the bidet thoroughly before using it. Before you get ready, find out where the water jets will come from.
- Before using the bidet spray, wipe yourself off with toilet paper if you've never used one.
- When using a bidet, soap is unnecessary. It is not necessary to use the bidet as a mini-shower following a bowel movement, sexual intercourse, or just to freshen up; however, some people do.
- Turn on the bidet jets only after you've removed any clothes, including underwear, slacks, and tunic-style shirts.
- Near your bidet, you could see a towel dangling. Warning: do not use this to dry your rear end. Only your hands.
- Turn off the T-valve after each use of the bidet attachment for optimal performance. A leaking attachment might happen if you forget to turn it off.
- To prevent germs from entering a vulva, it is important to direct the water front-to-back.
