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Water flossers are handheld devices that spray water between your teeth in steady pulses. Like traditional flossing, water flossers remove plaque and food particles between your teeth.
Studies show water flossers are effective at removing plaque. However, there are no studies confirming they can prevent cavities between your teeth the way floss can.1, 3
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 that have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance help prevent cavities, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and other oral health conditions. The ADA currently accepts Waterpik and Philips Water Flossers.
Here are the seven best water flossers available on the market:
Best Overall
The best overall water flosser is the Waterpik WP-660 Aquarius Water Flosser. The Aquarius oral irrigator is best for at-home use. When used daily, the device can remove up to 99.9% of plaque between teeth. The Waterpik Aquarius is also 50% more effective than traditional string floss.
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:
Best Cordless
The Waterpik Cordless Advanced is compact and does not have a large water reservoir. This model comes with four different flossing tips, three pressure settings, and 360-degree tip rotation.
It also features a magnetic 4-hour rapid charging system, a waterproof design, and an ultra-quiet operation. It's perfect for small spaces, travel, and can even be used in the shower.
Features:
Best Compact Choice
The ION Cordless Water Flosser provides maximum performance with cordless convenience. It is 30% smaller in size than traditional plug-in Waterpik models, so the ION is incredibly compact. The rechargeable cordless design also eliminates clutter, making it ideal for small bathroom counters.
ION’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts up to four weeks per charge. It also features a convenient magnetic handle cradle and an on/off water control on the handle.
Features:
Best on a Budget
The Waterpik Cordless Freedom is portable and waterproof. It's great for small spaces, travel, or use in the shower.
It comes with three tips and two pressure settings. It runs on AA batteries, so no charging is required.
Features:
Best Toothbrush Combo
This Waterpik Water Flosser kit 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. It is clinically proven to be twice as effective as traditional brushing and flossing in improving gum health and removing plaque.
It features three different cleaning modes (brush, floss, and brush + floss) and a two-minute brushing timer with a 30-second pacer.
Features:
Best for Teeth Whitening
The Waterpik Whitening Water Flosser uses Whitening Infuser Technology. This technology expertly mixes water with a gentle stain removal agent. Together, these ingredients safely restore the natural whiteness of your teeth, remove plaque, and improve gum health.
This Waterpik device removes up to 25% more stains than brushing alone.
Features:
Best Water Flosser for Children
Taking care of your 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 is capable of removing 99.9% of plaque between your child’s teeth. It is also smaller than other regular-sized water flossers on the market.
Using a water floss is simple. Here are the steps:
The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) recommends water flossing over traditional flossing.10
Some people prefer water flossing because it's easier to get into the teeth’s crevices. You may also find it more effective if you have dental work, including:
Also, conditions like arthritis or certain disabilities can make using hands and fingers difficult. If you have trouble maneuvering string floss, a water flosser may be a good option.
No studies have determined if water flossers can help prevent cavities in between the teeth as well as string floss. For this reason, many dentists recommend water flossers as an oral hygiene adjunct rather than a replacement for string floss.
Water flossers have been evaluated multiple times since the first model was introduced in 1962.2 Research shows that water flossers have advantages over traditional floss in several key areas:
In one study, researchers compared two groups of people. One group used a water flosser and the other used string floss. Both groups also used manual toothbrushes.
The researchers found that water flossing was far more effective. The water flosser group had an almost 75% reduction in overall plaque. For the string floss group, the reduction was around 58%.3
Researchers concluded that a water flosser and manual toothbrush were significantly more effective at removing plaque than string floss and a manual toothbrush.
Orthodontic appliances such as braces can be difficult to keep clean. Plaque and gingivitis often increase following their placement. Water flossing helps reduce these problems.
A study of 106 people with fixed dental appliances compared water flossing, string flossing, and no flossing. The people who used a water flosser had significant reductions in bleeding and plaque.4
Correct maintenance of dental implants is essential to prevent implant failure. Therefore, dentists often recommend water flossing.
An early study compared two groups of people with dental implants. The first used a 0.06% chlorhexidine solution delivered with a water flosser. The second group used a traditional 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse without a water flosser. The results were significantly better in the water flosser group:
Water flossers use a stream of pressurized water to clean the teeth. These handheld devices remove plaque, food particles, and other debris.
Studies show water flossers are very effective at removing plaque between teeth. To ensure you're buying a quality product, look for the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. These water flossers have been shown to help prevent gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues.
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