Dentists reveal their top 4 pet peeves, from brushing your teeth after a coffee to consulting Dr. Google

• Visiting the dentist may cause anxiety or financial stress, but regular cleanings are vital to oral health and overall wellness.
• Insider spoke to dentists about their top pet peeves and oral hygiene tips.

More than one in five Americans report they haven't visited the dentist in the past few years. After cost, fear is the second most-cited concern.

It can be intimidating to open wide and bare your not-so-pearly whites. But experts recommend you do so at least once or twice a year.

Appearance aside, oral hygiene also affects your general health. Gum disease, caused by plaque buildup around the teeth, has been associated with increased risk of heart disease and other inflammatory illnesses. Avoiding this buildup is simple, dentists say — brush and floss daily and don't skip dental cleanings.

Ask any dentist and they will insist they never judge their patients' teeth. But they do have some pet peeves.

Insider spoke to dentists to gather four rules of dental etiquette for the next time you're in the chair.

Resist the urge to cover your mouth

Whether you're embarrassed of your teeth or it's simply a reflex, a surprising amount of people cover their mouths when their dentist leans in to take a look, said Angela Abernathy, DDS.

"We're there to help, but we can't do it if you're scared to show us what we have to do," said Abernathy, a dentist at Boutique Smiles in Manhattan, New York.

A more dangerous reflex is the urge to dodge the anesthesia needle when a dentist is prepping you for a procedure, said Joshua Golden, DDS, of West Sunrise Dentistry in Sunrise, Florida.

"When we're coming towards you with that pointy needle, it's in your best interest not to grab our hands," Golden said.

Any dentist can spot the signs of a Cheetos habit

This should go without saying, but brush your teeth if you eat right before visiting the dentist.

Cheetos are especially likely to get stuck in your teeth, and Abernathy said most dentists will recognize the telltale orange crud in your molars.

Nicole Edwards, DDS, a dentist at McCleanSmiles in Bridgeport, Connecticut, told Insider that extracting the remnants of sticky candies like Starburst can add extra time to a standard cleaning.

The solution to this is pretty simple: just ask for a toothbrush before you go in for your cleaning.

But Abernathy warns against brushing your teeth directly after acidic food or drinks, such as oranges or coffee, which can damage your teeth when they're in an already weakened state. In that case, she said, drink water after you eat and wait 30 minutes before brushing.

Ask your dentist before consulting Dr. Google

Abernathy and Edwards both said they've seen patients come in armed with a Google diagnosis.

"You never want to tell your patient that they're completely wrong or make them feel that they don't know as much as you," Edwards said. "It's kind of annoying to try to fight Dr. Google."

When it comes to trends like charcoal toothpaste or oil pulling, always ask your dentist first. Charcoal can be harsh on sensitive teeth, and spitting oil in the sink or toilet will only hurt your pipes.

Non-professional teeth whitening procedures (beware of that kiosk at the mall) and direct-to-consumer braces also come with risks.

"Leave the medical advice to the actual medical people and not necessarily Google or what you heard a friend say," Abernathy said. "People need to remember that things can go wrong."

Be honest about how you chipped that tooth

Honesty is the best policy when seeking dental care, said Matthew Messina, DDS, Ohio-based dentist and consumer advisor for the American Dental Association.

If a patient says they broke a tooth "just minding their own business," the dentist's first thought will be tooth-grinding or jaw-clenching, Messina said. If the story is more simple — maybe you were chewing ice or bit down on a popcorn kernel — you should be transparent about what happened.

"The best way I can help you is if you tell me the truth and tell me what's really going on," Messina said.

Also, talk to your dentist before trying a DIY solution. Edwards said patients who self-repair broken teeth with superglue are only hurting themselves by consuming a toxic substance that's unlikely to work.

Read more:

5 tips to clean your toothbrush and keep it germ-free

4 home remedies to get rid of a toothache when you can't see a dentist

The best telemedicine services for anyone unable to visit a doctor's office in person