Spitting toothpaste into a cup vs sink

[PlumRaven]

Am I being unreasonable to think my husband shouldn’t use everyday drinking cups to spit his/let the kids spit their toothpaste into?

I think that it’s disgusting and they’re all capable of using a sink, so it shouldn’t be done.
He argues that it’s not unhygienic as realistically spit gets into cups anyway and they get washed with soap before use. He also thinks it’s a common thing that people do and I’m not convinced about that either.

I’m not sure if he’s right and it’s just that I think spit is gross so the idea grosses me out but it’s not actually that big a deal in terms of hygiene and a lot of people do it. Or if I’m right and it’s unhygienic and people don’t generally use a cup to spit out their toothpaste whilst they brush their teeth.

If anyone who agrees that I’m not being unreasonable has a better reason than ‘it’s just gross’ I’m particularly interested to hear. I don’t like debating based on just how something makes me ‘feel’/ subjective views but I’m aware this may just be that.

Why on earth would anyone spit toothpaste into a cup rather than straight into the sink unless they are a tiny child unable to reach the sink?! Baffling!

Never heard of that and practice in my entire life ever. WTAF.

It's giving me the dry boak just thinking about it.

I can't imagine why. To avoid cleaning the sink or something?

Never heard of that either. Grim. Seems way more effort than just spitting into the sink?

Is he personally handwashing all these cups - or is it another pointless task he's delegating to you?

In all my 67 years on this earth I have not heard of anyone spitting it into a cup!

Rinse mouth with water from cup or glass, sure.
But spit into sink!
Surely he's not spitting into the cup that he takes rinsing water from? Because then he'd be swilling with his own spit (boak)

Weird thing to do when the sink is right there!

It seems unusual but he is right, it is no more unhygienic than drinking from a cup or using a fork or straw, both of which are put inside your mouth.

Not particularly unhygienic. Weird and unnecessary (as well as not something I’ve ever heard of) though.

Ewww. He’s a weirdo. Just WHY?

I have never heard of this before. Not quite sure what's the point but it wouldn't bother me as long as they wash the cups afterwards.

This is a weird thing to do; clearly it’s easier to spit directly into the sink, however, I don’t think you’ve really got grounds to complain about if either. If the mug gets emptied and washed up then it really doesn’t matter. Very odd thing to do though.

To be fair the kids are young and need a step to reach the sink and the youngest has only just learnt to consistently spit, so there is that element when he does it with them

Washing up is his chore so it does get cleaned and I’m not involved in that process.
Essentially, I think I’m leaning towards the conclusion that he IS doing something weird and it’s still gross to me but I can’t really complain

What a weird and utterly yucky thing to do 🤢

No, I mean I think its weird you don't have a cup for this purpose if you have people in the house who need to clean their teeth but cannot reach the sink or reliably spit in the right direction.

I have a cup, I can't easily reach the sink. It is just for teeth cleaning though.

A cups a cup, people touch them with their mouths, dilute spit gets in them when they drink. You're effectively arguing over the amount of spit, not whether spit gets in them or not. That seems ridiculous to me.

So he is putting multiple cups full of saliva mixed with used toothpaste in the washing up bowl then he does all the dishes in that water?

Hang on, does he take a cup to the bathroom to brush his teeth?
He brushes them in the kitchen sink?

I have questions OP

Just unnecessary really isn’t it?! An extra step that doesn’t need to be done.

Ive always had my children brush their teeth over the sink because Lord knows it goes everywhere so the plug hole is literally right there. It’s easier to spit into a big target like a sink than a little cup for a small child I would’ve thought.

Why doesn’t he just have a cup in the bathroom for spitting in?

DS does this sometimes - he has a bowl of ice before bed and if he's very tired he'll spit into the bowl instead of going into the bathroom.

But - he's autistic and whatever gets him to clean his teeth regularly is fine by me. If DH started doing something similar without an equally good explanation I'd be grossed out.

I spit into a sink, like most normal people

I don’t spit toothpaste, never have.

You swallow your toothpaste and spittle?

I believe toothpaste manufacturers recommend you don't swallow their own product

Or - you don't use toothpaste?

😳 I'm sorry what now?

It's weird and not something I've heard of. If getting them to use the step is an issue, wouldn't it make more sense to get them to spit into the toilet where it can just be flushed away?