This is why you should ditch toilet paper for good – for the sake of your health

IT'S a must have in the bathroom, without question.

Or is it? It turns out we may not need to use toilet paper at all.

In fact, some experts are suggesting we don't because it is unhygienic and bad for our health.

"Toilet paper, unhygienic?" we hear you ask, how can that possibly be?

You're probably going to wish we didn't tell you this, but toilet paper can actually leave traces of poo behind so it's not a very effective way of cleaning yourself.

Those traces of poos can also lead to health woes like anal fissures and painful urinary tract infections.

Not an ideal situation.

According to Rose George, author of The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters, we should be using bidets or baby wipes to clean our behinds.

"I find it rather baffling that millions of people are walking around with dirty anuses while thinking they are clean," George told Tonic.

"Toilet paper moves s***, but it doesn't remove it. You wouldn't shower with a dry towel; why do you think that dry toilet paper cleans you?"

Not only are bidets environmentally more friendly, but they clean our bums better and reduce our risk of nasty problems down there.

"It can be useful with patients who suffer with haemorrhoids since toilet paper can be quite irritating," he said.

"Haemorrhoids can be further aggravated due to the friction of toilet paper, so bidets offer a less harsh alternative."

Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swellings of enlarged blood vessels inside and around your bottom.

In most cases they don't cause any symptoms, but they can cause bleeding after doing a poo, itching, mucus or discharge after going to the toilet or soreness and swelling.

Another potential side effect of leaving poo behind after your wipe is a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Anyone who has ever had one will tell you how painful it is.

UTIs happen when the urinary tract becomes infected, usually by bacteria.

They can cause pain, burning and stinging when weeing, an urgent need to pee, urine that's dark and strong smelling and pain in your lower tummy.

But you can't exactly carry a bidet with you at all times, so what's your best option when you are out and about?

Baby wipes are a great option for keeping yourself clean, and don't create as much friction as toilet paper so your bum will thank you for it too.

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