The Benefits of a Bidet

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What is a Bidet?

A bidet is a bathroom fixture that helps to maintain cleanliness after going to the bathroom.  They can also be helpful for menstruating women as well as the elderly and disabled who find it hard to clean themselves using simply toilet paper.  A bidet can be either a separate bathroom fixture or a toilet seat bidet which attaches in place of your normal toilet seat.  They use your existing water supply to shoot a stream of water at the anus or vagina to gently clean and refresh without the harshness of toilet paper.

Health Benefits

Most people who purchase a bidet do so because of the numerous health benefits involved.  Bidets can help protect the user from infections that are caused by fecal bacteria.  Fecal bacteria can cause the rare but serious disease called toxic-shock syndrome which can be fatal to women to experience it.  Pubic hair and the moist nature of the private area can cause growth of bacteria around the anus which may enter the urethra or urinary tract and cause kidney infections along with a host of other diseases.

Using toilet paper is an antiquated and unhygienic method of cleaning the anus.  Not all fecal matter is removed when using toilet paper which creates a dangerous collection of fecal bacteria that not only creates a hazard but also can result in offensive odor.  Microbiologists recommend that we take a shower every day to remove these bacteria as well as to protect our immune system and ensure that it’s healthy.  A bidet is like a shower for your anus, every time that you go to the bathroom.  This drastically reduces any bacteria colonies and promotes our health.

Using toilet paper frequently causes irritation of the anus that can cause anal fissures, hemorrhoids, and chafing that can cause pain when wiping in sensitive areas.  It’s also not recommended to use soap in the anal or vaginal areas due to a drying effect on the sensitive mucous membranes which don’t have oil producing glands.  Toilet paper can cause tiny tears in the sensitive areas of the anus or vagina resulting in an increased risk of infection.  Bidets can also flush bacteria out of areas other than just the surface, which is impossible with toilet paper.

Types of Bidets

The most common bidets are separate water basins that have both hot and cold faucets.  These are commonly found in Asia, Southern Europe and Latin America.  They resemble a toilet but are not meant for urinating or bowel movements; they’re simply for washing up afterwards.

Another type of bidet finds the bidet functions built in to a toilet.  This reduces the space required and allows you to make use of the bidet without getting up and moving.  Modern bidet toilets have an astonishing variety of features including warm air dryers, built in deodorizers and even automatically opening hydraulic seats.

A relatively new type of bidet is the toilet seat bidet.  This attaches to your existing toilet and replaces the seat.  They generally have all of the features of a built-in bidet at a much lower cost and the added benefit of being detachable.

The Cost of Bidets

Bidets have a huge variety in pricing, from $30 to upwards of $3,000.  Separate bidet fixtures typically cost $300-700 while combination toilets can cost much more than that.  A good medium is the toilet seat bidet.  They require a small amount of plumbing and need a GFI outlet within 40 inches of the back of your toilet, but they provide an amazingly effective experience with a minimum of cost or space needed.