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A water flosser is an oral health device that sprays streams of water in steady pulses. Similar to traditional dental floss, the water removes food particles, bacteria, and plaque between your teeth.
Waterpik® is the most well-known and respected water flosser brand. According to Waterpik, 9 out of 10 dental professionals recommend these water flossers over other brands.
Waterpik sells over 20 different types of water flossers, including:
The brand also sells many different types of flossing tips and accessories. These tips have different cleaning features and can be swapped out at any time. For example, if you have gum disease, you’ll benefit from using the Pik Pocket™ Tip with your Waterpik. It accesses up to 90% of the depth of 6mm gum pockets.
Everything We Recommend
Best Overall — Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser
Best Cordless/Travel — Waterpik Cordless Advanced
Best Cordless Countertop — Waterpik ION Professional Cordless
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 Children
Our team has put together a list of the best cordless water flossers available. We took into account the:
Some water flossers have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. These water flossers are effective in preventing gum disease, cavities, and other oral health conditions.
Devices that currently have the ADA Seal of Acceptance include Philips and Waterpik Water Flossers. We chose the best flossers with this seal of acceptance, which you will read more about below.
Other devices included in this article do not have the ADA Seal of Acceptance. However, after hours of research, our team determined they were still effective in removing plaque and preventing common oral health conditions (e.g., cavities and gingivitis).
We determined each brand's reputability by speaking with company leaders, reading hundreds of customer reviews, and ensuring they provide quality customer service.
All of the following Waterpik Water Flossers are ADA accepted for effectiveness, safety, and accuracy:
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 and 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.
For best results, follow these steps:
To determine Waterpik’s effectiveness, we compiled a list of clinical research studies. We also compared Waterpik to traditional string floss and other water flosser competitors:
Waterpik’s website has 26 research articles that review the effectiveness of the brand’s water flossers.8
In one study, the Waterpik® Water Flosser was found to be more effective than string floss in adolescent patients with braces. The device was over 3X more effective than floss and over 5X more effective in removing plaque than brushing alone.6 The researchers also found that Waterpik was 26% more effective in reducing gingival bleeding in orthodontic patients (using the Orthodontic Tip).
Another study found that the Waterpik® Sonic–Fusion® and traditional flossing/brushing significantly reduced plaque. However, the Sonic–Fusion was more than twice as effective in reducing plaque, gum bleeding, and gum inflammation.12
In addition to plaque removal and improved gum health, Waterpik is also effective at stain removal. A study found that the Waterpik® Whitening Water Flosser improved stain reduction by 25% over brushing alone (after two weeks).8
Waterpik has also been proven to be safe in clinical studies for over five decades.10
Waterpik is the most trusted and well-known brand of water flossers.
Waterpik Water Flossers also have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. This means that these devices are proven to be effective in preventing gum disease, cavities, and other oral health conditions.
“The ADA Seal of Acceptance provides consumers with the assurance that the advertising claims about a product are scientifically sound and valid. The Seal is a symbol of safety and efficacy for over-the-counter dental products. The program began in 1931, and in 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave the ADA a certificate of commendation for the outstanding self-regulatory efforts of its Seal Program.”
Waterpik
More than 200 products carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance. However, the Waterpik® Water Flosser is the first powered interdental product to earn this Seal.
Philips Sonicare Airfloss Water Flosser also has the ADA Seal of Acceptance. This device is a great alternative to Waterpik.
String floss is still the #1 recommended way to floss by most dentists. However, as water flossers become more popular, some dentists are now starting to recommend these devices over traditional floss. Waterpik is the most trusted brand (because it has the ADA Seal of Acceptance).
Anyone can use a water flosser.
People with very sensitive gums may find it difficult to use water flossers. Children can also use water flossers. However, they might not be good candidates since most kids don’t have established oral health routines.
For best results and plaque removal, brush your teeth before you floss.
Waterpik recommends changing your flosser tip every three to six months.
Yes. A ring at the base of each tip is color-coded for easy identification.
Remove the tip using the eject button, soak it in hydrogen peroxide for 5 to 7 minutes, and then rinse it under warm water.
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