Do you clean your teeth before going to a dental appointment or let the dentist do it?

I try to cram 6 whole months worth of dental hygiene into the hours before my appointment.

Dentist can't make my gums bleed if they're already bleeding.

taps temple

I'd be too embarrassed to go to the dentist with dirty teeth. Definitely brush before.

Last time I was at the dentist I watched a guy drink a Sprite and smoke a cigarette just before going in.
- Im surprised a smoking person goes to the dentist. Most smokers I know have black teeth

I see it no different than being showered before a massage. Its just rude otherwise.

This. Dentist wants to see your teeth, not smell them.
You shower before getting massaged? What's next? Using toilet paper before a prostate exam?

Always brush and floss before. No need to clutter up the workspace.

I eat a package of Oreos beforehand to help out, that way the hygienist has a clear marker of if they've cleaned somewhere or not. Cleaning clean teeth would be like painting a grass green. Did I get that spot? But painting it purple, you know where you've been.

Seems like something a fabricator would do.
That's a great Stephen Wright joke:

My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she has to cancel the rest of the afternoon's appointments.
Taps temple.

If you call a plumber to fix your toilet you should be nice and clean it beforehand yeah.

Do you wash your hair before getting a haircut? Out of respect for the professional, always clean yourself before they have to get up close and personal.

My guy says that color sets better on dirty hair.
- That’s true, but we always prefer clean hair otherwise ;)
Yes, then they wash it again.
- Because we want it wet. Spraying with water usually isn’t enough. Besides, most folks enjoy the scalp massage.

Do you shower before going on a date? Of course.

I brush my teeth beforehand. There were a couple of times when I didn't, which led to the dental hygienist picking at my teeth and gums a lot more than when I did brush. I'd rather brush and get rid of as much crud from my teeth that way as opposed to having spend more time and pain at the dentist.

Do you want to be done with the picking and scraping as easily and quickly as possible? Brush first. Not excessively, just as you normally would at night. If you're flossing, do it a couple hours early so any swelling can subside before they measure your gums.

Otherwise it's like trying to mop an unswept floor.

Dental assistant once thanked me profusely for brushing my teeth before the appointment. I always do, but that cemented my resolve to continue doing it indefinitely.

The dentist doesn't want to play peek-a-boo with your last meal.

Obviously floss and brush beforehand.

I'd be mortified not to. It would be like going to get a haircut without showering that day.

I really like my dentist and everyone on her team, so I will always brush before an appointment. Feels rude not too.

I brush my teeth every morning anyhow so I guess sbefore by default for me.

I brush my teeth like normal usually unless I eat something like ribs, then I might brush/floss right beforehand. I'm in the habit of brushing twice a day and flossing regularly already though, so my teeth are usually relatively clean anyways.

I would never brush or floss before, unless I had just eaten something awful within the last hour or so. I think it is best to stick with your normal routine. You give the hygienist a better look at how good or bad your cleaning is. They can easily tell what is recent and what has stuck to the teeth and requires scaling. Furthermore, you aren't saving them any stink. The stuff that you need their help to clean out smells about 50 times worse than the things you just ate (just smell your floss compared to your breath after any meal). A quick rinse with water will get the worst out of their way, and even if you're a sloppy eater the rest will take maybe 5 minutes at worst to remove.

It's like washing your car before going to the car wash

It's not at all like that. Your dentist isn't merely brushing your teeth, so the analogy doesn't work at all.

Every dentist I've ever had gave out toothbrushes at check-in so you could brush before being seen. Is that not the norm?

My orthodontist had a teeth brushing station with disposable toothbrushes (that come pre-loaded with toothpaste). I've never seen that at a dentist though. Mine have always given out toothbrushes at the end of an appointment. Probably because otherwise people would keep using the same one for years.