We wanted to know more about water flossers so we turned to a professional – Dr. Timothy P. Levine, DMD. Currently, the Director of Orthodontics at Jacobi Medical Center (Bronx, NY), Dr. Levine is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He was an orthodontics resident at St Barnabas Hospital and a Jacobi Medical Center Craniofacial and Surgical Orthodontics Fellow. He has been in private practice in both the Bronx and Manhattan since 2010 and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
Before we delve any deeper, we should note Dr. Levine stresses that water flossers should not be viewed as a replacement for regular floss. As he explains, floss operates “on a finer scale and gets into the gums that are directly between teeth, which water flossers are unlikely to reach.”
Fortunately, they still have plenty of merit. Dr. Levine continues, “Water flossers use ‘pressurized irrigation’ [to]…remove plaque and food debris in the areas of the teeth that tend to be harder to get to with a toothbrush, even higher-end, powered brushes.” He states the main benefit is that flossers disrupt biofilm, a technical term for plaque and the material that lets bacteria adhere to your mouth. Water flossers can “break up [biofilm] and get rid of the bacteria’s access to the teeth and gums.” According to Dr. Levine, water flossers are especially useful for individuals who have implants or braces since they make it harder to give your mouth a thorough cleaning.
When shopping for a water flosser, you’ll quickly discover that there are three types available: cordless, countertop, and attachable. As you likely gleaned from the name, countertop water flossers rest on your counter. They typically plug into an electrical outlet and often have the greatest number of features. Cordless water flossers are usually battery operated; you can find both rechargeable and disposable kinds. They’re also smaller and more portable than countertop flossers and tend to be less powerful. Attachable flossers connect directly to the sink or shower, so they don’t need a power source. Overall, Dr. Levine recommends the cordless option for travel and the countertop for home use. He says that attachable versions are usually more trouble than they’re worth since they rely on the tap for pressure and are fairly restrictive.
We know you’re anxious to up your oral hygiene game and buy a water flosser. We applied the information Dr. Levine shared (he doesn’t endorse any specific brand) and came up with our top “Piks.” We’ve included additional information about the benefits of water flossing for your oral hygiene below the product selections.
Waterpik WP-660 Aquarius Water Flosser
Best water flosser overall
If premium oral hygiene is a priority, consider an Aquarius. This Waterpik WP-660 is top-of-the-line, providing a deep clean below the gum line and between teeth. It is an effective flosser with 10 pressure settings, a 1-minute timer, and a 30-second pacer. A range of tooltips are included; an orthodontic tip, toothbrush tip, plaque seeker tip, and the ‘pik pocket’ tip, with three classic jet tips. This is an ideal flosser for individuals with braces, crowns, implants, or periodontal issues.
Why we love it:
- Wide range of tooltips for a thorough clean
- Different pressure settings
- Available in four different colors
H2Ofloss Water Flosser
Best quiet water flosser
The H2Ofloss Water Flosser is the quiet one. It provides total control to the user with 5 pressure settings, and a pause feature on the handle. This model includes a high-volume reservoir that lasts up to 150 seconds. Its most impressive feature is that it includes 12 tips: 1 cleaning irrigation tip, 1 moisturizing mist spray tip, 2 orthodontic tips, 2 tongue cleaning tips, 2 periodontal tips, and 4 jet tips. Clean, flossed teeth are one H20floss Water Flosser away.
Why we love it:
- Quiet operation
- 12 different tooltips to choose from
- Pause feature for total control
Waterpik WP-260 Water Flosser for Kids
Best water flosser for kids
Want to get your kids excited about oral hygiene? Consider purchasing the Waterpik WP-260! Its colorful and simple design is perfect for any child ages six and above. The controls are easy to use, there’s just an on/off switch and three different pressure settings. Additionally, the reservoir is able to hold enough water for a 60-second session. And the WP-260 even comes with an orthodontic tip, making it ideal for kids with braces.
Why we love it:
- Great introductory flosser for kids
- Make it easier for kids with braces
- Simple, easy to use design forms good flossing habits
Panasonic EW-DJ10 Water Flosser
Best travel water flosser
The Panasonic EW-DJ10 is a great option for individuals on the hunt for an affordable water flosser. Its cordless, collapsible design makes it perfect for travel, regardless of whether you’re just headed to the gym or jetting around the world. The Panasonic offers two settings – high-speed for normal cleaning and low-speed for people with sensitive gums. Its reservoir is easy to refill and last for 40-60 seconds. You will, however, need to purchase two AA batteries. The Panasonic EW-DJ10 can’t run without them.
Why we love it:
- Collapsable for perfect portability
- Simple and effective with two setting design
Additional oral hygiene benefits to water flossing
An important factor to consider when purchasing a water flosser is the size of the reservoir. Some cordless models hold less than 15 ounces while you can find countertop options that hold upwards of 35. The larger the capacity, the less likely you’ll have to stop part-way through flossing to refill your tank. For reference, 35 ounces should last for 90+ seconds. And Dr. Levine says that you should use your water flosser for “1-2 minutes per session.”
Additionally, some oral irrigators are designed with a variety of pressure settings. This can help with debris removal and/or individual comfort (especially if you have sensitive gums). Moreover, having a modicum of control allows you to slowly adjust to using a water flosser. Many cordless models typically have 2-3 different pressure settings while you can find countertop options with as many as 10.
As you shop around, it’s also a good idea to think about different flossing tips. More modest models are sold with a basic tip (meant for every day flossing and gentle rinsing). However, some manufacturers include a few extra tips – important if you’re sharing the flosser. Beyond pure numbers, there are also a variety of tip types. You can find orthodontic tips (for braces, brackets, permanent retainers, etc.), toothbrush tip (to combine flossing and brushing), periodontal tips (to clean below the gum line and periodontal pockets) and restorative tips (to help clean bridges, implants and crowns). Further, a handful of flossers are designed with rotating tips, making it easier to reach the back of your teeth and mouth.
While narrowing down your choices, you may also want to keep an eye out for water flossers that come with timers. According to Dr. Levine, “Timers are useful because it’s easy to lose perspective on how long you’ve been doing a monotonous task, even one that takes a short time.” You can find some Waterpiks designed to signal when you’re done flossing. Other, fancier models may even vibrate or pause when it’s time for you to move on to a different section of your mouth.
Finally, before you make your big purchase, you should consider noise level. After all, like many tools and gadgets, some water flossers are bound to be louder than others (especially if you have a countertop model). If you’re sensitive to noise, make sure the flosser you purchase is on the quieter side.
Happy flossing!
