Most of us don’t spend a lot of time studying the toilet bowl before we flush after going number two. But gastroenterologists say we probably should at least glance at our stool. That’s because what you see there can tell you a surprising amount about what’s happening inside your gut, or at least give you a clue that something is off. While watery diarrhea or blood are pretty obvious signs of a potential issue, what does it mean when your stool has ragged, jagged or fluffy edges? Below, doctors share what you should know. What can ragged or jagged edges mean?“In gastroenterology, we use the Bristol Stool Scale to evaluate digestive health, and it basically serves as a daily report card for your gut,” said Dr. Rosario Ligresti, chief of gastroenterology at Hackensack University Medical Center. “A smooth, sausage-like stool means your digestion is running at the perfect pace ― your colon has just enough time to absorb water and pack the waste neatly.”Ragged or jagged edges tell a different story, however. “When your stool has ragged, jagged or fluffy edges ― what we call a type 6 stool ― it means the waste moved through your colon a bit too fast,” Ligresti explained. “The colon simply didn’t have enough time to absorb the water and form it into a smooth shape.”The Bristol Stool Scale classifies poop into seven types based on shape and consistency. While the ragged or jagged edges tend to fall into the category of type 6, the ideal that Ligresti described would be a type 3 or 4. “Stool with ragged edges often indicates stool moving somewhat quickly though the GI tract, and can be described as loose or semi-formed,” said Dr. Hassan Dakik, a gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. “In clinical terms, it is known as Bristol Type 6.”Dr. Savita Srivastava ― a gastroenterologist, microbiome specialist and author of “First 1000 Days: How Your Baby’s Gut Microbes Shape Lifelong Health” ― explained the underlying mechanism.“As digested food moves through the colon, one of the colon’s main jobs is to absorb water and shape the waste into a smooth, cohesive log,” she said. “If the colon contracts too quickly, stool passes through before the colon has enough time to absorb water and form the beautiful smooth edges.”There are many potential causes behind ragged edges, and most are fairly ordinary. “This faster movement time is very common and is usually caused by a lack of soluble fiber in your diet, a sudden change, a spike in stress or even just drinking too much coffee,” Ligresti said. Dakik offered a broader list of common culprits. “Dietary factors such as excess artificial sweeteners or too much caffeine, intolerances such as lactose intolerance, certain medications like metformin or antibiotics, and an increase in stress or anxiety can do this, though typically transiently,” he said. Mild infection, inflammatory bowel syndrome, microbiome imbalances, food sensitivities and general inflammation could also play a role. When should you be concerned?“I always tell my patients not to panic over the occasional weird bowel movement,” Ligresti said. “If your stool looks a bit ragged after a stressful week or a weekend of eating rich foods, that is actually completely normal.”A one-off change in your bowel movements just happens sometimes and is usually not a reason for concern. “An occasional day of ragged or fluffy stool is completely normal ― it often just means your gut reacted to a spicy meal, an extra cup of coffee or a stressful morning,” Srivastava said.Antonio Hugo Photo via Getty ImagesPoop with ragged edges can indicate many different things, including plenty of ordinary causes. But at other times, there might be signs that something more is going on. “It becomes concerning when it isn’t an isolated event,” Srivastava explained. “If ragged, loose stools persist for more than four weeks, or if they are accompanied by urgency, frequent rushing to the bathroom, alternating with diarrheal stools or abdominal cramping, it warrants attention to determine the root digestive distress.”She explained that chronic ragged stool can point to underlying issues like irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), dietary intolerances like lactose or fructose malabsorption, gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).“You should speak with a doctor if this stool change is consistent and lasting for over a few weeks to a month, or if there are other associated symptoms such as abdominal pain, blood in the stool or unintended weight loss,” Dakik said. That’s why it’s useful to pay attention to your stool and what’s typical for you. “A persistent change in your stool characteristics from baseline may be something that needs further evaluation,” said Dr. Mitali Agarwal, a gastroenterologist at the Orlando Health Digestive Health Institute. “Discuss with your clinician if you have normal-formed stools and suddenly you develop constant or intermittent constipation, diarrhea, bleeding or mucus in the stools.”She added that things like stool shape and texture give important clues about digestive health. “If ragged, mushy stools become an ongoing issue, or if it’s accompanied by things like abdominal pain, severe bloating or waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, it’s time to look deeper,” Ligresti said. “At that point, it could be a sign of a food intolerance like IBS, a mild gut infection or an overgrowth of bacteria.”Your stool might indicate other potential issues as well. Jagged edges are just one of many things worth noting. Gastroenterologists say stool color, consistency and shape all offer valuable information about your body.“There are a few hard-and-fast red flags that warrant a call to your doctor,” Ligresti said. “The biggest one, of course, is blood. If your stool is black and tarry or if you see bright red blood, you need to be evaluated to rule out bleeding in the digestive tract.”Srivastava broke down the changes in color worth noting, as normal stools range from light to dark brown. “Bright red or dark maroon stools often signal active bleeding in the lower colon or rectum, while dark black, tarry stools usually indicate bleeding higher up in the stomach or esophagus that has been digested,” she said. “On the other hand, pale, clay-colored, or greasy yellow stools typically suggest issues with bile flow, gallbladder function or fat malabsorption in the small intestine.”Beyond changes in color, Agarwal flagged other characteristics that can be concerning, including changes in size and shape like stools that are narrower or thinner, and changes in consistency including firm or watery. She also recommended paying attention to any “change in the texture or contents of the stool ― greasy and floating or containing mucus.”If possible, try to get a sense of your family history with anything like colon cancer or IBD as well. And pay attention to your baseline bathroom habits. “Don’t be afraid to look in the bowl before you flush,” Srivastava said. “Your stool is a daily, real-time report card for your gut health.”Of course, you don’t need to scrutinize the toilet bowl obsessively, but a quick glance before you flush can help you get a sense of what’s typical for you. “It’s also important to remember that ‘normal’ varies from person to person,” Srivastava said. “Passing stool anywhere from three times a day to three times a week can be completely healthy, provided it is a consistent pattern, stools are formed and comfortable to pass and free of pain or blood. If you notice a lasting change from your personal baseline, make sure to follow your gut instinct and make an appointment.”And don’t sweat it if you don’t have perfect bowel movements all the time because human digestion fluctuates.“You don’t need a colon cleanse or a detox to fix your gut health,” said gastroenterologist Dr. Supriya Rao. “Stay hydrated, eat a whole-foods based diet, exercise and get good sleep.”Focus on the basics with daily consistent habits. “Drink plenty of water, eat a diverse range of high-fiber foods and stay active,” Ligresti echoed. “And lastly, as a gastroenterologist, I have to say it, do not put off your colon cancer screenings. If you are 45 or older, talk to your doctor about scheduling a colonoscopy. It’s the easiest way to prevent colon cancer, and it truly saves lives.”