If you’ve ever been concerned about your oral health, you’ve probably considered getting a water pick. These devices help remove plaque and debris past what a toothbrush can do. They are used to replace flossing and will keep your gums and teeth in tip-top shape.
Water picks can come in all shapes and sizes. They have smaller options for travel or larger options for families that have multiple people using them daily. We’ve found that the highest quality water picks, whether for travel or for home, will have different nozzle options, a range of pressures to satisfy everyone, and will last a long time. You’ll find these criteria in our selection of the best water picks below—check them out!
Waterpik Electric Water Flosser
Best Overall
Versatile and Effective for Everyone
This water pick is a great choice for multi-person households. It comes with a variety of settings and color-coded tips for teeth of all kinds, and is safe for braces.
Why We Love It:
- Built-in timer
- 10 pressure settings range from 10psi to 100psi
- Dishwasher safe
- Gum massager for circulation
Something to Consider:
- Loud when running
- Needs cleaned often
Nicwell Cordless Water Dental Flosser
Runner-up
Perfect For On-The-Go Use
This tiny but mighty water pick is ideal for those who are traveling, as it can fit perfectly in a carry-on or backpack. Don’t let its size fool you; it’s still quite powerful and will remove 99.99% of residue.
Why We Love It:
- Compact for travel
- High pressure ranging from 30-110psi
- 4 settings with 5 different tips
Something to Consider:
- Battery will need to be recharged
- USB adapter not included
TUREWELL Water Flosser
Best Design
A Large Multi-Use Choice
This water pick attaches to a 600ml tank and can easily be used by the whole family. The multiple settings and anti-leak design make it a great choice.
Why We Love It:
- Anti-leak design
- 10 pressure settings (30-125psi)
- Multiple color-coded tips
Something to Consider:
- Water sprays at variable speeds
- Tank empties fast
INSMART Cordless Dental Flosser
Most User-Friendly
A Powerful and Portable Choice
INSMART’s water pick comes with a preset option called Memory Function that can save your preferred pressure. It’s also ideally sized for travel and able to be taken apart, and comes with its own storage bag.
Why We Love It:
- Detachable tank
- 360-degree rotating nozzle
- 4 cleaning modes
Something to Consider:
- No pressure range
- Bulky to hold
SYNHOPE Mini Water Pick
Best Quality
High Power in a Small Package
This palm-sized water pick is easy to hold and a perfect choice for those concerned about their oral health but like to travel often or do not have space for a full tank.
Why We Love It:
- Palm-sized
- Long battery life
- USB included
Something to Consider:
- Pressure only 140psi
- Will have to fill tank multiple times per use
Hangsun Water Jet
Most Versatile
A Quiet Cordless Option
This battery-powered water pick requires no cords or wires, adding to its efficiency and convenience. The removable water tank is easy to use, and the various nozzle modes make this product even more user-friendly.
Why We Love It:
- 4 nozzles with soft, medium, hard modes
- Quiet for any time of day use
- Detachable tank
Something to Consider:
- No USB adapter
- Soft mode is still a strong pressure
FAQs
How Often Should I Use a Water Pick?
It’s generally recommended that you use a water flosser before you brush your teeth to remove most plaque and debris. If you brush your teeth twice a day, it won’t hurt to also use the water pick twice. You can truly use it as often as you want, though, because it’s only cleaning your teeth, and there are usually no negative side effects.
Will a Water Pick Damage My Sensitive Teeth?
If you have sensitive teeth or gums, you may want to use a lower pressure setting or a nozzle that doesn’t cause pain. This might take some trial and error of messing around with the different settings, but a higher pressure won’t do any damage; it may only cause slight pain. The low, soft pressure settings are made with sensitive mouths in mind.
Buying Guide
It can be hard to decide which water flosser would be the best addition to your household. Here are some of our tips on what to consider when buying.
- Pressure: If you have sensitive teeth, you’ll want a water pick that has a variety of pressure options to make sure the experience is something you’ll want to do daily. The pressure should also be high enough to be effective.
- Portability: Water picks come in a variety of sizes. You can get a standard tank that plugs in and sits on the counter, or a battery-powered one that is easy to bring with you on trips.
- Family Size: A lot of our options come with color-coded nozzles, so everyone in the family can have their own personal one instead of sharing.
- Tank Size: Refilling the tank in the middle of use can be a hassle, so look for one with a larger tank size to prevent this from happening.
- Battery Life: Most of the batteries on the portable water picks take about 4 hours to recharge, so if you don’t have time to wait, you’ll want to make sure the battery life lasts long enough for multiple uses.
