British men are being warned to stop smearing toothpaste on their penises as part of a bizarre trend to help them last longer in bed.
The odd suggestion has no effect on sexual performance and could inflict burns and blisters on their genitals, experts have warned.
The peppermint oils and other chemicals in toothpaste, including bleaching agents, can be extremely irritating to sensitive skin.
And the bizarre technique puts women at high risk of contracting an infection in their vagina, experts said.
YouTube videos describing how to apply the toothpaste have racked up millions of views.
British men are being warned to stop smearing toothpaste on their penises as part of a bizarre new trend to help them last longer in bed
One recent YouTube video promoting the technique, by a self-proclaimed health care tipster, has almost 1.1million views
One recent video advises men to ‘massage toothpaste on the tip of your penis’ to ‘crush premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction’ and last 30 minutes longer.
Hotly-debated posts have also been sprouting up on forums like Reddit and Steemit in recent months.
Consultant pharmacist James O’Loan is sounding the alarm following the flurry of posts on social media.
Mr O’Loan, pharmacist at online doctor service Doctor-4-U, said there’s zero evidence toothpaste can aid sexual problems.
He said: ‘I’d urge anyone thinking of trying this rather worrying ‘toothpaste’ technique to cease and desist.
‘It won’t do anything at all to combat premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction, despite the claims being made in these videos.
‘The peppermint oils and other chemicals in toothpaste, including bleaching agents, can be extremely irritating to sensitive skin.
‘By putting it on your genitals you actually risk a mild burn, as well as blisters and scarring. And toothpaste should in no way be used as a lubricant, either.’
The most popular YouTube video, which has 1.1million views, was uploaded by user Jose Barber, who describes himself as a healthcare tipster.
The footage specifies that toothpaste should be applied to tip of the penis before having sex.
The video, uploaded by Jose Barber, claims rubbing toothpaste on the tip of the penis makes men last 30 extra minutes
The guide also claims the toothpaste works by ‘numbing the penis’ and ‘stimulating the nerves’
It also describes it as an ‘affordable’ alternative to premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction medications
It also describes it as an ‘affordable’ alternative to premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction medications.
It adds: ‘You will have a sense of pride. Do you ejaculate too fast? Follow my simple suggestions for curing premature ejaculation and you’ll last for 30 minutes or longer by the end of the week!’
A similar clip, uploaded by DHC Daily Health Care and viewed 65,000 times, makes similar claims.
Mr O’Loan said there is hope for those who suffer premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction – but toothpaste isn’t it.
He added: ‘Most people have heard of the drug sildenafil, often sold as the brand Viagra, which increases blood flow to the penis and helps maintain an erection.
‘But for premature ejaculation there’s also a drug that’s not as well known, and which helps combat premature ejaculation – which is called Fortacin.
‘It’s an easy to use spray which contains the local anaesthetics lidocaine and prilocaine, and which is designed to decrease sensitivity in the penis.
‘It was only approved for use in Europe in November 2016, but since we began offering it via prescriptions in March 2017, it’s proven extremely popular.’
Urologist Rich Viney said toothpaste has ‘absolutely no effect’ on sexual performance and any perceived benefit is a placebo.
He told MailOnline: ‘It does not make you less sensitive. Toothpaste is naturally abrasive so it might make intercourse uncomfortable which may help in lasting longer.
‘But it could lead to infections in the woman’s vagina. You do not want foreign material inside the vagina, it’s an irritant.
‘Anyone using toothpaste for sex is kidding themselves. There’s real remedies that work out there.
‘Go into your local Boots branch – there are lubricants which are safe and tested.’