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Water flossers are also known as oral irrigators. They are handheld devices that remove plaque and food particles between your teeth.
They do this by spraying steady pulses of water powered by a small motor. The pressurized stream of water can reach areas like your gum line and between your teeth.
Everything We Recommend
Best Overall — Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser
Best Cordless/Travel — Waterpik Cordless Advanced
Best Compact — Waterpik ION Professional Cordless Water Flosser
Best Toothbrush/Flosser Combo — Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0
Best Whitening — Waterpik Whitening Water Flosser
Best Budget — Waterpik Cordless Freedom
Best for Children — Waterpik Water Flosser for Kids
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Water flossers with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance help prevent cavities, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and other oral health conditions. The ADA currently has approved Waterpik and Philips Water Flossers.
These are the seven best water flossers available on the market:
The best overall water flosser is the Waterpik WP-660 Aquarius Water Flosser. The Aquarius Water Flosser is best for at-home use.
When used daily, the device can remove up to 99.9% of plaque between teeth. The built-in timer/pacer briefly pauses at 30 seconds and 1 minute to help track the flossing time. The device also delivers 1400 water pulses per minute for a deep clean.
Features:
The Waterpik Cordless Advanced is compact and does not have a large water reservoir. It's perfect for small spaces and travel. You can even use it in the shower.
Features:
The ION Cordless Water Flosser provides maximum performance with cordless convenience. It is 30% smaller than traditional plug-in Waterpik models, so the ION is incredibly compact.
The rechargeable cordless design eliminates clutter, making it ideal for small bathroom counters. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery also lasts up to four weeks per charge. It features a convenient magnetic handle cradle and an on/off water control on the handle.
Features:
The Waterpik Cordless Freedom is perfect if you’re on a budget. It’s portable and waterproof. It's great for small spaces, travel, or to use in the shower.
It comes with three tips and two pressure settings. It runs on AA batteries, so no charging is required.
Features:
The Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0 allows you to brush and floss your teeth without switching products. The kit includes one patented water flossing brush head, a premium toothbrush case, and global voltage.
When it comes to improving gum health and removing plaque, it is clinically proven to be twice as effective as traditional brushing and flossing.
Features:
The Waterpik Whitening Water Flosser uses Whitening Infuser Technology. This technology expertly mixes water with a gentle stain-remover agent.
Together, these ingredients safely restore the natural whiteness of your teeth, remove plaque, and improve gum health. It removes up to 25% more stains than brushing alone.
Features:
Taking care of oral hygiene from an early age is essential for long-term cavity and gum disease prevention. The Waterpik Water Flosser for Kids is perfect for beginners and can remove 99.9% of plaque between your child’s teeth. It is also smaller than other regular-sized water flossers on the market.
The best water flosser will depend on your needs. These are things to consider before buying a water flosser:
Water flossers come with two or more pressure settings. These settings let you control the force of the water spray the device produces.
Having more settings to choose from can be useful, especially if you have sensitive gums or teeth. You can start with the lowest pressure and gradually switch to stronger settings once you’re more familiar with your water flosser.
Some water flossers come with various flosser tips. Others might only have the classic tip.
A classic jet tip is good enough for everyday use. If you have braces, you might want a water flosser with an orthodontic tip.
The size of your device’s water reservoir will determine how much flossing time you have. Cordless water flossers typically have a water reservoir of 7 ounces, which gives you 45 seconds of flossing time.
Countertop water flossers can hold up to 35 ounces of water. This roughly translates to 90 seconds of flossing time.
If you travel a lot, portability is important to consider. Cordless water flossers are easier to bring around.
They operate on disposable or rechargeable batteries, and they’re often designed to be compact and lightweight. However, they often have less water storage and pressure settings.
Countertop water flossers provide lots of options, but they are bulky. They also need a socket outlet to work.
Studies show water flossers are effective at removing plaque. However, none confirm that they can prevent cavities between your teeth the way floss can.1, 3
The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) recommends water flossing in addition to other methods of teeth cleaning.10 Dentists recommend using water flossers as a supplementary step to traditional flossing.
You may find water flossing easier to do if you have dental work, including:
If you have trouble maneuvering string floss, a water flosser may be a good option.
Research shows that water flossers have advantages over traditional floss in three key areas. This includes:
A group of researchers found that using a water flosser after toothbrushing can result in 75% less plaque, while traditional string floss may only reduce plaque by 58%.3
Another study found that water flossers significantly reduce plaque and bleeding in people with fixed dental appliances. This is compared to traditional string floss.4
Water flossers can also help with dental implant maintenance. Researchers found that water flossers significantly reduce bleeding in 30 days. This is compared to using traditional floss.5
Water flossers use a stream of pressurized water to clean the teeth. These handheld devices remove plaque, food particles, and other debris.
Before buying a water flosser, there are a few factors to consider. These include:
Studies show water flossers may be more effective than traditional flossing at removing plaque between teeth.3 To ensure you're buying a quality product, look for the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.
Ultimately, most dentists recommend using water flossers to supplement your daily oral hygiene routine.4 This ensures plaque reduction, which directly results in less cavities and gum disease.
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