Toilet paper/bath tissue differs from facial tissue in that it is designed to deteriorate when wet to keep drain pipes clear. The two terms are virtually the same, depending on preference. Incidentally, the term "toilet paper" was first used in The New York Times on July 15, 1888.

Toilet original paper, bath tissue, dunny roll/paper, bog roll or any other name by which it is referred was first used in the 6th Century A.D., however, the first modern toilet paper was made in 1391, when it was created for the needs of the Chinese Emperor and his family. Each sheet of toilet paper was perfumed, and that version is close to the version that we use today.

The most obvious function of toilet paper or bath tissue is for hygienic purposes. In addition, there are many other uses that are non-traditional and vary by household. Most modern sewage systems can accept bathroom tissue, as it is designed for such use. Intuitively, toilet paper is used the same way by all countries who use it.

The basic types of bath tissue are made of either recycled paper or virgin paper. Virgin paper is made of wood pulp. Recycled paper is typically made from used papers of various types and takes 50 percent less energy to produce. Typically those of the recycled nature are not as soft and are of lower grade.

There are different grades of toilet paper that range from very hard or scratchy industrial paper used in schools and prisons to the luxuriously soft four-ply and quilted varieties, which may even contain lotions or waxes for added softness. The prices of these can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer and the content of the paper.

The invention of modern toilet paper is credited to Joseph C. Gayetty. He invented the first packaged toilet paper in the United States in 1857. "Gayetty’s Medicated Paper" was sold in packages of flat sheets, medicated with aloe and watermarked with his name. Gayety’s toilet paper was available as late as the 1920s.

Though many varieties offer perfumes, dyes for color coordination, aloe or other treatments, most medical experts advise women to use only white paper that is not treated with additional or unnecessary materials or chemicals. Regardless of these warnings, second to white, the most popular colors of toilet paper--or bath tissue--sold in the United States are peach and pink. Incidentally, toilet paper in its natural state is brown and is bleached to obtain its white color.