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'.

@marqueses

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

But they do say it as others on this thread say they do. I am Welsh and it also seems to be used in Ireland.

?Eres española? Direct translation from me lavo los dientes?

I use the term “brushing my teeth” but an acquaintance from Ireland says “washing my teeth”, which I do find exceptionally charming!
Maybe because it’s more descriptive - I mean, one can dry-brush, but washing, even when using a brush, seems so much more cleansing! It’s a lovely phrase, which I would consider adopting as it’s so much more indicative of what we actually do to clean our teeth!

Do you wash your hair with a brush too?

Goodness, thank you all very kindly for replying. Interesting results so far.

Indeed, my parents are from NI, though I grew up 'abroad' first in London, then mostly in Europe. I've been in England first at school, then college and now working.

Clear majority supporting DH, who notices but only mentioned it once in thirty years. A decent minority for washing, possibly but not definitively Irish related.

DH promised to repent at the first 'LTB'. Let's see what happens overnight.

@DramaAlpaca

OP, are you Irish by any chance? DH is and he says 'wash'. I think it's a quite normal expression in the part of Ireland where we live, but I thought it was weird when I met him and have never quite got used to it. It's always 'clean' to me.

I'm Irish, as is my Dh and he says wash, I say brush. Funny isn't it! I've often wondered about it.

I say wash my teeth but I'm not from 'ere.

The first thing I thought off was my Irish friend who said it once.

It's clean. Clean your teeth

Definitely an Irish thing; my Irish DH says it and it does grate on me, but it's what he's always said, so he's not going to change now!

Your dh is a hero for not pointing this out to you before, in 30 long years.

It's not a phrase I've ever heard.

'Clean your teeth' or 'Brush your teeth' for me.

Wash your teeth sounds rather odd!

My Irish husband says it.

"Wash your teeth" makes me think of taking false teeth out and putting them in the dishwasher.

I’m Irish .. me and Dh both say it

My grandfather used to say - with his broad Irish accent- he was going to wash his teeth (not false or anything! 😂). It used to make me smile and I miss him a lot but you’ve reminded me of him OP ☺️

I say both. I think I say brush more but I can't be sure. I also say go and do your teeth. I've never given it any thought before now.

My DH often comments on the fact I say forks & knives which is also idiosyncratic apparently 🤷🏼‍♀️.

I've only heard it from my Irish friend.

Glaswegian DH with Irish roots says "wash".

Irish here 👋🏻 I wash my teeth and I wear runners 😊

I also think this is generational - most people under 50 in Ireland prob say they brush their teeth but over the age of 50 they wash their teeth, I remember when brushing started to replace washing, I blame American tv

Brush my teeth with a toothBRUSH. Just like brushing my hair with a hairBRUSH 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Lilifer

Irish here 👋🏻 I wash my teeth and I wear runners 😊

Ate runners the same as daps?

Are not ate!

I'm trying to think of a context in which I would say "wash" that doesn't involve soap, amd can't think of one. To me washing something means washing with soap.