I’ve read that the risk of toxic shock is actually very low. There was a particular brand of tampon (which is no longer on the market) which was associated with TSS, and so now all tampons are packaged with a warning. But if you use tampons like you’re supposed to (i.e. following the instructions, not leaving them in for any longer than 8 hours) it’s really a minimal risk.
Okay, this is where things might get a little detailed: For those of you who use tampons, have you ever put one in / taken one out toward the end of your period, where things are a little, ahem, drier down there? If you use a tampon when you’re not on your period, you might not be lubricated enough, meaning that putting it in and taking it out could be painful.
If it’s an issue of going commando, you can actually buy self-adhesive pads that stick to the crotch of your pants to keep any discharge at bay.