If you don’t floss already, your dentist probably mentions it on every visit. If you do, you probably either use traditional dental floss or a water flosser.
Flossing is very important, and there’s a reason your dentist wants you to do it. Did you know that 27% of people lie to their dentists about how often they floss their teeth?
Flossing removes plaque from the teeth and in between the gums. No toothbrush can reach those spaces. This plaque builds up over time and can have some unpleasant results.
Water flossers are the next generation in flossing. Sure, traditional floss is still very effective. However, water flossers are considered the new standard. And for good reason!
A water flosser is to floss, as an electric toothbrush is to a manual toothbrush. That’s the way to think about it.
We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to water flossers, and why you should be using one.
What is a water flosser?
A water flosser is a device that shoots a stream of pulsating water in between your teeth and gums in order to remove plaque and food debris. They are the subject of many studies. Most concluding that water flossers are an excellent tool for oral health. Many people have decided to opt for water flossers as an alternative to traditional dental floss.
The first water flosser was designed in 1962 by Dr. Gerald Moyer and John Mattingly in Fort Collins, CO. They called it an ‘oral irrigator’ rather than a water flosser.
It was designed to be a device that could be used at home to improve oral health. Dr Moyer gave the first model (named The Octopus) to a patient suffering from periodontal issues. And that patient was so happy with the results, he eventually became an investor. Then the company’s first president!
Advantages of Water Flossing
There are lots of advantages of using a water flosser. They are:
- Easy to use. When compared to other plaque removal methods like dental floss, the water flosser is a breeze to use. There’s no learning curve or fiddly string to deal with, all you have to do is aim and press a button.
- Cheap if you buy the right device. A water flosser can last a long time. If you buy a high quality device it will pay for itself in value many times over.
- Effective. Studies show that a water flosser can remove 99.9% of plaque biofilm, and is 29% more effective at removing plaque than regular string floss. It is also the best tool available for reducing gingivitis and gingival bleeding.
- Painless. A water flosser usually has different pressure settings for people with different levels of gum sensitivity. Some people experience pain using traditional dental floss. A water flosser minimises or even stops this.
- Fast and convenient. Used in a similar fashion to an electric toothbrush, the water flosser simply needs to be run across the gums and between the teeth both front and back.
How do I know which water flosser is for me?
Water flossers come in many shapes, sizes, and brands. And there are a number of factors you should take into account when shopping for a water flosser:
- Corded or cordless? There are benefits to both options. A corded water flosser is probably preferable for home use because it can store more water and is likely to be more powerful. Also, it will also plug directly into the wall, which means it doesn’t have to be charged. A cordless water flosser has its own reservoir built in. This makes it perfect for use anywhere in the house or even while travelling. The downside is it requires charging.
- Brand? The most well-known brand on the market is the original Waterpik. It’s the company that created the device and has a long history in its development. So you know you’ll be getting a quality device from the most knowledgeable company in the business.
- There are other brands that provide similar devices more cheaply which can sometimes seem a better option. But remember, you may be sacrificing quality and life expectancy of the device.
So what are my best options?
There are many different types of water flosser on the market, so we compiled the 5 absolute best choices for you.
Top 5 Water Flosser Reviews
#1. Waterpik Aquarius
The Waterpik Aquarius is the best-selling water flosser online. And for good reason.
Waterpik are the inventors of the water flosser. And this is their flagship product. It’s the most advanced flosser they’ve created so far and is packed with handy features.
The Aquarius is a corded water flosser making it great for home use. But not so great for travelling despite its compact size. It has 10 pressure settings so if you find you have sensitive gums you can turn it down, or if its not getting the job done properly you can turn it up.
There’s a timer built in, as with most new electric toothbrushes, so that you won’t be over or under-doing it, which I always find helpful. It also includes 7 different tips for different purposes: general plaque removal, implant/braces/crown specific cleaning, periodontal pocket cleaning for the deeper cleans etc.
Overall this is a great product and the most highly recommended on this site as well as the general dental community. Pictured to the left is the designer edition (available in black, pink, and turquoise). The classic edition is available here.
- ADVANCED WATER FLOSSING: Aquarius is a performance water flosser model featuring enhanced pressure with 10...
- HIGH VOLUME RESERVOIR AND SLIM HANDLE: Holds 22 ounces for 90 seconds of use, no refilling required. Small...
- DENTIST RECOMMENDED: 9 in 10 dental professionals recommend the Waterpik brand. Waterpik is clinically proven...
#2. Waterpik Complete Care
The Waterpik Complete Care is actually a pretty cool combo package.
Its basically pristine dental health all in one purchase. You get what is essentially the Waterpik Ultra (the older model of the Aquarius, but some still regard it as better), and a sonic toothbrush to go with it.
Sonic toothbrushes are great because they reach an estimated 30,000 brushes per minute, as opposed to the 3-4,000 you will get with an electric toothbrush. Additionally, a wave is created that extends beyond the actual brush contact for about 1/8 of an inch. This is due to the high speed of the brush. This gives you a bigger brushing surface and therefore a cleaner mouth.
The price of the Waterpik Complete Care is remarkably low considering what’s in the box.
Some people say that the water reservoir runs out a bit too quickly, but this would be the case with most Waterpik products as they all have similar sized reservoirs. This seems to be a matter of personal preference.
This product comes with a nice travel case, though I personally don’t find these kinds of devices great for travelling.
- More effective brushing and flossing in one convenient device
- Removes plaque and debris deep between teeth and below the gum line where brushing and traditional flossing...
- High volume reservoir with 90 plus seconds of water capacity and sonic toothbrush technology with 25 percent...
#3. Waterpik Cordless Freedom
Some people prefer to have a water flosser that can be used while walking around the house, or taken with them while travelling.
We recommend the Waterpik Cordless Freedom.
There are lots of things going for the Cordless Freedom. It’s waterproof and can be used in the shower, it’s battery operated so doesn’t need charging, it comes with a handy travel bag and travel plug, and you get the same results to any other Waterpik device.
Unfortunately, the reservoir is smaller (but it can’t be the size of a corded device’s!) and lasts about 30 seconds before needing to be refilled.
It also only has 2 pressure modes and so isn’t as customizable as the other devices with regards to power.
All in all, this is a really decent option for someone who travels or insists on water flossing in the shower.
- PORTABLE CONVENIENCE: Cordless Waterpik Water Flosser is designed for travel anywhere, use in the shower, and...
- CLINICALLY PROVEN: Removes up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas and is up to 50% more effective than...
- NO OUTLETS, NO CHARGING: Includes 3 AA batteries (no outlets or charging needed) - assuming daily use, replace...
#4. H20 Floss
The H20 Floss is an example of a smaller brand doing everything right.
The main advantages are that it’s cheaper than most Waterpik products, and it comes with 12 tips.
This is great. Because the whole family can make use of it! You can even store the tips in the inbuilt storage compartment.
As far as functionality goes, its still a very solid product. It does everything it’s supposed to do, and well.
The H20 Floss boasts being an extremely quiet machine that you can even “use at midnight without waking up your family”.
Most people that bought this instead of a big brand device have been thrilled with the results, so if you’re looking for a cheaper option this comes highly recommended.
- 【UPGRADED FLOSSER VERSION】---HF-9 water oral irrgator is newest upgraded version of model HF-8 .With...
- 【5 WATER PRESSURE SETTINGS 】--- Pressure range from 5-110 PSI. Choose your favorite pressure setting and...
- 【1200 PULSES/MINUTE FREQUENCY】---The most comfortable frequency according to survey. The dental flosser...
#5. Toilet Tree Professional
One thing that’s great about this company (not including their clever name) is that they listen to their customers.
The previous design of this product was wrought with design flaws. Customers complained. Most companies wouldn’t do a thing about it, but not these guys.
They listened to the complaints and redesigned the product to make sure their customers were happy.
This resulted in things like: better batteries for longer life, a wider opening due to problems filling up the device, easier tip release, and a motor redesign to make the device quieter.
The impact on their reviews has been huge.
The Toilet Tree Professional is a cordless water flosser that’s great for both travel and home use. You can charge it via USB and it has a larger reservoir than most portable water flossers!
- RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES FOR MORE POWER AND LONGER LIFE: Our latest model includes a lithium ion battery pack...
Bonus: Waterpik for Kids
Let’s face it: its not going to be the easiest task to get your kids to pick up the habit of flossing daily with traditional dental floss.
With water flossing, you might have a better shot.
Waterpik capitalized on that chance by making a water flosser just for kids aged 6+. They engineered it with the Waterpik for Kids a “kid-proof electrical design” and provided decal stickers so kids can make it their own.
If your child has braces, this is one of the best ways to clean out the bits of food inbetween the braces that a toothbrush may miss.
For those who want their children to practice oral health from a young age, this could be a great way to do that.
- CHILDREN’S WATER FLOSSER: Kids will want to floss when you give them the Waterpik Kids' Water Flosser...
- SAFE & EFFECTIVE: The Waterpik countertop Water Flosser for Kids features an extra safe electrical design for...
- TESTED & TRUSTED: Clinically proven - when used in conjunction with proper brushing, this Flosser for kids has...
Check out the best selling water flossers on Amazon!
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Waterpik has TERRIBLE customer service!