Il faut se brosser les dents

Question

I always say this to my daughter (I'm trying to teach her french too). But if this is more of a general statement, is that a bit of a weird way to speak to a child then? I.e. to tell them to go and brush their teeth.

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Katherine,
If you want to tell your child to go and brush their teeth, you will tend to say:

Vas te brosser les dents ! = Go and brush you teeth!
Brosse-toi les dents ! = Go brush your teeth!
C'est l'heure d'aller se brosser les dents. = It's time to go and brish your teeth.

But if you're making a general statement to someone or to a child about the necessity of brushing one's teeth (i.e. the importance of brushing teeth), you'll say:
Il faut se brosser les dents = You need to brush your teeth
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !