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Lately, it seems like we’ve been hearing a lot of bidet hype. Believed to have originated in 18th century France, the bidet is a common bathroom fixture in Europe and Asia that looks like a toilet but sprays water to clean your lady parts after you use the bathroom. Bidet evangelists have long argued that the fountain-like bathroom fixture is more hygienic and environmentally friendly than standard toilet paper. And they’re now starting to gain in popularity stateside.

American fixtures company Kohler is the largest producer of bidet seats (the newer, more compact version of a bidet that’s built right into the toilet seat) in the U.S., and according to the brand, sales are increasing as the hygiene and green arguments gain ground. They can cost anywhere from $600 to over $4,000 depending on what model you choose. This is what one looks like (it has an above-the-rim faucet that sprays water):

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Believe it or not, toilet paper is a $9.6 billion industry, and only two percent of TP purchased each year is made from an environmentally friendly recycling process. Considering the fact that the equivalent of 27,000 trees are flushed down the toilet each day, that makes sustainability a pressing issue.

So is it time to trash the toilet paper and get on board with the bidet?  

You should never totally trade in your toilet paper, says David Kaufman, M.D., a urologist in New York City. “Cleaner is always better, but a bidet can’t be a substitute for toilet paper,” he says, explaining that a bidet wash alone isn’t enough to do the real dirty work of cleaning with toilet paper.

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That being said, bidets can be beneficial for your lady bits by helping to reduce the spread of bacteria, cut down on irritation that can be caused by wiping too much, and keep you fresh before and after sex. Basically, experts tout the use of a bidet in any situation where it’s difficult to clean yourself properly or when you have cause to be wary of extra bacteria (like after getting down and dirty).

Adding a bidet to your bathroom routine might be even more beneficial for some women in particular: They can be especially useful if you’re prone to UTIs, says Kaufman. “UTIs are most commonly caused by vaginal bacteria,” he says, adding that women who are at risk for UTIs can benefit from washing with a bidet before and especially after sex. (According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, frequent sex, diabetes, obesity, and a narrowed tube in the urinary tract can all increase your odds of getting a UTI.) Since most places in the U.S. still don’t have bidets, “the next best thing is to hop into the shower and use a handheld showerhead,” says Kaufman. No handheld showerhead? Use a washcloth or your hands—just skip the loofah, which can create small tears and expose you to infection. 

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The bottom line: Don’t trade in your toilet paper just yet—but if you want a deeper clean down under, consider the bidet a complement to your restroom routine. And if you’re worried about the environmental impact of using all that TP, look for brands that used recycled paper, like Seventh Generation.