Wash or brush teeth?

[FinallyHere]

DH of many, many decades mentioned just now that he finds my use of 'wash my teeth' rather than 'brush my teeth' charmingly idiosyncratic.

No one has ever mentioned this before , thought, to be fair, it's possible that the number of people I ever mention my teeth to is pretty restricted.

So, lovely people of MN, AIBU to say 'wash my teeth' rather than 'brush my teeth'.

It makes me feel a bit sick, like you'd be using soap

Yes!! I wash my teeth and my dh thinks it an odd expression too. He is used to me after 20 years though and no longer comments

Ugh my dad used to say "wash your teeth" when we were little. Not sure why! He used to call trainers "runners" too so he had a few weird turns of phrase! He grew up in Manchester in case it's relevant.

WhiteXmas21, Shriver is American. I wonder if “washing” one’s teeth is an American phrase?

Clean your teeth.

Washing conjures a different image to me

Wash them if they're not in your mouth at the time, maybe?

I always ask the kids if they've 'done' their teeth. If I was instructing them rather than asking, I'd say brushed or cleaned. No washed!

@Babdoc I never heard it growing up in the States.

I (English) say Clean Teeth

DP (Scottish) says Brush Teeth

I have never heard anyone say Wash Teeth

If you use a toothBRUSH, you brush your teeth

Never heard wash your teeth. It's brush or clean.

Brush or clean teeth but I do draw a bath 🛁

I say ‘wash my teeth’ but I think it’s because I have Irish parents. I didn’t realise it was not used until my partner said the same thing.

Runners is Irish for trainers/plimsolls

Brush or clean.

I've heard it from people in one family.

One that called long strands of pasta 'Bisketi' along with other 'amusing' deliberate mispronunciations and would rage about how Pig Ignorant people were in saying Aitch because 'IT'S A FAAACKING HHHHHHUUUUUURRRR SOUND. HHHHHHUUUURRRRR. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAYCCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHHH'.

No Irish or Northern roots. 'Proper Cockneys' [hmmm] from HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH - oh, no, no H sound there - 'Ammasmiff.

People don't say it because it doesn't make any sense. What would you be washing them with?

That is very odd to me! Washing is usually lathering up with some sort of soap and brushing is…well, using a brush.

I have literally never heard anyone ever say that they wash their teeth.

You are being extraordinarily unreasonable.

I say wash your teeth. Think most of my friends do too. I think it is fine. Am Welsh but historic Irish families locally so maybe just picked it up that way.

Runners is Irish for trainers/plimsolls

And Scottish

I've never heard anyone say wash your teeth personally

We have one friend who says it. He's from Northampton. Don't know if that has any bearing on it! 🤣
Literally the only person I've ever heard say it!

Americans say it.

I'm American I've heard it in the midwest

My Irish colleague says this. I would say brush/clean/or “do” - as a kid my mum would ask “have you done your teeth?” before bed.

I've heard it in Ireland - it's quite common over there.