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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wash or brush teeth?

96 replies

FinallyHere · 02/02/2022 21:16

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'.

OP posts:
Squishmael · 02/02/2022 23:28

Clean teeth, do teeth, brush teeth, yes. I've never heard of washing teeth! That sounds very odd 🤣

eekbumbler · 02/02/2022 23:29

Often been threatened to have my mouth washed out with soap and water (as a child I should add) but I have never washed my teeth.

I just tell my mum now that she was a fucking bully 😁

DahliaMacNamara · 02/02/2022 23:32

I think washing sounds much more effective. Perhaps I'll adopt it.

I've definitely heard of the expression, most likely read rather than heard, though.

Lilifer · 02/02/2022 23:34

Actually thinking about it washing your teeth is a much better phrase, you brush your hair so brushing your teeth really is a bit misleading, yes you use a brush, the the purpose of the brush is to clean/wash food plaque etc off the teeth so in fact washing your teeth is a far more accurate thing to say - so there. And I'm definitely not over invested in this discussion 🤓

Lilifer · 02/02/2022 23:39

@LydiaLurk

Are not ate!
I've never heard of Daps, is that another word for runners?? I love it! I'm from southern part of Ireland but when I moved up to Northern Ireland everyone calls runners gutties, still can't get used to that one! 😅
Chickychoccyegg · 02/02/2022 23:41

Wash your teeth doesn't sound right , it's clean or brush your teeth Grin

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 02/02/2022 23:43

Heard this one not infrequently in the states.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 02/02/2022 23:50

Dh says this and I've always laughed. I presumed it was a Northern saying.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 02/02/2022 23:51

We had daps and school which were plimsolls and we had dap bags to keep them in.

Hairyfriend · 02/02/2022 23:56

I've lived in 3 countries, and the only time I've heard the term 'wash' your teeth, was from someone who spoke English as a 4th language! Never heard it used by an native English speaker.

I used brush your teeth and wash your face! Clean your teeth also, but much less common. I'm with your DH- its odd to say 'wash your teeth' Confused

RobbieWeirdicht · 02/02/2022 23:58

@FinallyHere

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.

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

Objection M'lud!

You're trying to lead the jury here! Grin

Original poster
FinallyHere · 03/02/2022 00:02

Guilty as charged @RobbieWeirdicht 😀

OP posts:
Yearofthetygerburningbright · 03/02/2022 03:19

I've never heard "wash my teeth" before but either "brush my teeth" or "clean my teeth" is usual.

In a way if you are brushing then rinsing and then rinsing again with mouthwash you are definitely washing your teeth.

Although my dentist explained recently that that's not how to use mouthwash but that's another story.

liveforsummer · 03/02/2022 06:45

@Lilifer

Actually thinking about it washing your teeth is a much better phrase, you brush your hair so brushing your teeth really is a bit misleading, yes you use a brush, the the purpose of the brush is to clean/wash food plaque etc off the teeth so in fact washing your teeth is a far more accurate thing to say - so there. And I'm definitely not over invested in this discussion 🤓
But you're brushing the plaque and food away not washing it away - you're not using soap 😆
CounsellorTroi · 03/02/2022 06:50

Washing teeth makes me visualise taking them out and putting them in the dishwasher.

liveforsummer · 03/02/2022 07:07

@CounsellorTroi

Washing teeth makes me visualise taking them out and putting them in the dishwasher.
Or soaping them up with a sponge 😆
BewareTheBeardedDragon · 03/02/2022 08:25

@Winter2019

If you use a toothBRUSH, you brush your teeth
Do you flannel your face then? Or if you're not using a flannel are you watering it? Grin
Iamanicepersonreally · 03/02/2022 08:27

Wash sounds really weird. Not read the whole thread, but are you a native English speaker?

dementedma · 03/02/2022 08:32

We tend to say do your teeth/ have you done your teeth? Or cleaned them.

Mabelface · 03/02/2022 11:40

My friend from Shropshire says wash your teeth. She also says tuth rather than tooth

Postitmug · 03/02/2022 15:10

Not quite the same but when I went for one of my Covid jabs the woman in the waiting room at the end asked people to "wash"
their chair before leaving. She meant wipe the chair with a wipe.

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