We spent 21 hours analyzing 22 different water flossers from 6 manufacturers that are available on the market. We compared them side by side and analyzed their features, price, easiness of use, build quality and so on. We picked the Waterpik WP-662 Aquarius as the best water flosser for most consumers because it offers the highest amount of pressure settings of all water flossers we reviewed, comes with 7 water flossing tips that should last well over a year, and because Waterpik is the first product in its class accepted by the American Dental Association. The downside of Aquarius is its size which makes it inconvenient for traveling which is why we picked the Waterpik Cordless Advanced as a better option for consumers who want a more portable device. It offers 3 cleaning modes, comes in attractive black design, and is backed by several clinical studies.

Our review process

Time spent reviewing 21 hours Products considered 22 Products reviewed 10

Are water flossers worth the investment?



Most doctors and dentists agree that dental hygiene is one of the most essential parts of personal hygiene. Poor oral care habits can result in yellow teeth, gingivitis, gum disease, and can lead to even more severe health problems.

If yellow teeth, plaque and gingivitis don’t sound alarming enough for some of the people you know, you can easily let them know that it can get much worse, especially on the long run. According to the CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention), scientists have recently discovered several links between gum disease and very serious health conditions such as stroke and even heart disease.

While recent studies and surveys show that approximately 50% of US adults aren’t brushing their teeth enough and they aren’t using the right brushing technique, it gets even worse when it comes to flossing.

According to several surveys about 70% of adults in the US don’t floss every day, and many of them don’t even realize the importance of it. It’s a well known fact that most dentists suggest that flossing should be done at least once per day, but some of them even go further by saying that flossing is even more important than brushing and they are probably right. Brushing with a toothbrush can’t clean tiny spaces between teeth and along the gum line as effectively as flossing and it’s a fact that plaque between the teeth can do more harm on the long run than plaque on the teeth surface.

Best overall water flosser

Waterpik Aquarius WP-662

Pros Modern design

Modern design Accepted by the American Dental Association

Accepted by the American Dental Association 10 pressure settings

10 pressure settings Several health benefits

Several health benefits Easy to use

Easy to use Several design options Cons Warranty only valid for North America

Features 10 pressure settings

Comes with 7 tips

Water capacity for 90 seconds of cleaning

Water control on handle

LED information panel

If there’s a single manufacturer that comes in mind when talking about water flossers, it has to be Waterpik. After all, it’s a company that invented the first ever oral irrigator back in 1962 and has been one of the leading innovators in the oral health industry ever since. Although Waterpik sells several types of products for dental hygiene, most of their sales comes from water flossers for home use.

The Waterpik Aquarius is one of the latest and most popular products manufactured by Waterpik. It’s an upgrade from the old Ultra model and it features an improved and modern design which is more than welcomed since most older Waterpik oral irrigators look outdated and ancient to say the least. It comes in several different color options to choose from. Average consumer will most likely opt in for standard black and white design while some will prefer the pink or blue option.

Why is the Aquarius our top pick?

The main reason why we placed the Aquarius on the top of our list is the number of different options it brings to the table. It offers 10 different pressure settings to choose from (the most out of all water flossers we reviewed) which makes it easy to find the one that suits your desires and preferences. Switching between pressure settings is done through the large button on the side of the device. The lower pressure settings are suitable for gentle gum massage and people with sensitive teeth while higher pressure settings are powerful enough for deep and effective cleaning of areas between teeth and along the gum line.

The Aquarius comes with 7 different tips included in the package.

Classic Jet tip is best for general use

Toothbrush tip transforms it into a toothbrush and water flosser at the same time

Plaque seeker tip is great for hard to reach areas, especially for people with crowns, dental implants, bridges and so on

Orthodontic tip is designed to reach areas underneath wires and around brackets – suitable for people wearing braces

Pik Pocket tip is designed for cleaning deep below the gum line

Replacement tips aren’t the cheapest compared to most other water flossers on the market, but they also aren’t the most expensive. Considering the fact that Waterpik recommends tips to be replaced every six months, the seven included tips can easily last several years before you have to start thinking about buying new ones.

Only sold in the U.S.



The downside of the Waterpik Aquarius is that, at the time of writing this review, it was only sold in North America and was only compatible with 120VAC/60Hz outlets. We still don’t know why because it could easily dominate the European oral care market in our opinion. Another downside is that it isn’t the most quiet water flosser out there, especially when operating at the highest pressure settings.

Pros Modern design

Modern design Accepted by the American Dental Association

Accepted by the American Dental Association 10 pressure settings

10 pressure settings Several health benefits

Several health benefits Easy to use

Easy to use Several design options Cons Warranty only valid for North America

H2ofloss hf-8whisper

Pros Low price

Low price Adjustable pressure (5-110 PSI)

Adjustable pressure (5-110 PSI) Easy to use

Easy to use Quiet operation

Quiet operation Large reservoir Cons Design

Design Only suitable for 120V/60HZ outlets

Features 12 multi functional tips included: 4x jet tips, 2x periodontal tips, 2x orthodontic tips, 2x tongue cleaning tips, 2 nasal tips

80ml reservoir capacity

5 pressure settings (pause included)

The HF-8whisper is an advanced water flosser manufactured by H2ofloss. It comes with several advanced features and can be a decent and more affordable alternative to the Waterpik Aquarius. Of course it doesn’t come with as many features as the Aquarius, but considering the fact that it’s cheaper, it’s clear that it brings a lot of value for the money to the table.

There are five pressure settings to choose from, ranging from 5 to 110 PSI.

Unlike the Aquarius, switching between different pressure setting is done through the button on the handle which makes it more convenient if you like to cruise through different pressure settings a lot. The reservoir holds up to 800ml of water which is enough for several uses. But if we’re being realistic, most people prefer flossing with fresh water, so a reservoir with a slightly smaller capacity wouldn’t be a downside.

Outdated design?

If there’s one thing we don’t like about the HF-8whisper is the design. Although it’s very convenient and handy, has a nice and convenient on and off switch and a large reservoir and storage compartment for tips, we can’t help but think that it looks a little bit outdated and very similar to some of the older Waterpik products.

THZY FC-169

Pros Unique and attractive design

Unique and attractive design Adjustable pressure (30-120 PSI)

Adjustable pressure (30-120 PSI) Easy to use

Easy to use Quiet design Cons The water tank could be larger

Features 7 multi functional tips included

600 mL reservoir capacity

10 pressure settings

If most water flossers look boring, that’s something you can’t say about the THZY FC-169. It’s a nice looking water flosser and if you were wondering what R2-D2 from Star Wars would look like if he joined the dark side, this is pretty much it.

There’s a nicely designed storage compartment for replacement tips on the side of the device, a handle holder on the other side, a handle with on and off button, and a somewhat medium-large water reservoir with 600 mL capacity at the top.

10 pressure settings

The FC-169 offers 10 different pressure settings ranging from gentle massage to high pressure which is more than you get with most water flossers on the market.

There are 7 tips included in the package which is more than you get with most water flossers and the same as you get with the Waterpik Aquarius.

Quiet design

Just like the HF-8whisper, the THZY features quiet design which is more than welcome since most water flossers can be quite noisy, especially when operating on the highest pressure settings. Unfortunately the FC-169 doesn’t provide us with information how much noise it actually produces, so we can’t compare it with other products.

What about the downsides?

There aren’t any notable downsides of the THZY. It’s a medium-priced flosser that comes packed with a lot of goodies. The water tank could be larger, but it’s large enough for a single flossing session.

Waterpik WP100W Ultra

Pros Affordable

Affordable Adjustable pressure (5-90 PSI)

Adjustable pressure (5-90 PSI) Easy to use

Easy to use Large reservoir Cons Outdated design

Outdated design Falls short compared to Aquarius

Features 12 multi functional tips included: 4x jet tips, 2x periodontal tips, 2x orthodontic tips, 2x tongue cleaning tips, 2 nasal tips

80ml reservoir capacity

5 pressure settings (pause included)

The Waterpik Ultra is an older brother of the Aquarius. While they do share a lot of the same features and there isn’t much difference between their price tags, the Ultra falls short in a few categories.

Disadvantages od Waterpik Ultra compared to Aquarius:

Doesn’t have a LED display

Looks more outdated when it comes to design

Has less tips included in the package

Doesn’t have the 1-minute timer and 30-second pacer

Benefits of Waterpik Ultra compared to Aquarius:

Has a slightly longer cord (a matter of inches)

Has a storage compartment for replacement tips on the top which is more convenient in our opinion

Considering the fact that both Aquarius and Ultra cost nearly the same, we believe that the Aquarius is a better choice for most consumers.

VAVA VA-EB006

Pros Modern design

Modern design Large water reservoir

Large water reservoir FDA approved

FDA approved Easy to use

Easy to use 10 pressure settings Cons Only 3 jet tips included

Only 3 jet tips included Lack of custom tips

Features 10 pressure settings to choose from (up to 110 PSI)

Comes with 3 tips

Water capacity for up to 90 seconds of cleaning

The VAVA is a low-priced water flosser that is on the more affordable side of products we have reviewed and it’s a very interesting pick for people who don’t want to spend a few extra dollars on the most expensive flossers. It features several advanced features and it’s advertised as a dental flosser for whole family. But if we’re being realistic, any water flosser can be used by whole family as long as is has enough replacement tips for all family members. It looks simple, attractive, and it looks like a minimalistic version of the Aquarius from the design aspect.

10 pressure settings

There are 10 different pressure settings to choose from which is more than you get with most water flossers on the market. The most powerful pressure setting can reach up to 110 PSI of pressure which is usually too much for an average user, but it can be useful for rare occasions when you need an extra powerful pressure to remove the most stubborn food leftovers.

The tank has enough capacity to hold 600 ml of water and is easily able to provide 90-seconds of uninterrupted flossing routine on the highest pressure setting.

The disadvantage of the VAVA is that there are only 3 interchangeable jet tips included in the package (and one tongue scraper tip). If you have a family of over 3 members and you want to use this “water flosser for entire family”, you will have to purchase more tips as an addition if you don’t want to share jet tips with other family members. The good news is that replacement tips are on the lower side compared to replacement tips of other manufacturers.

Waterpik WP-950 Complete Care

Pros Modern design

Modern design Comes with a sonic toothbrush

Comes with a sonic toothbrush Easy to use

Easy to use 10 pressure settings

10 pressure settings Large reservoir Cons The toothbrush only has two cleaning modes

The toothbrush only has two cleaning modes Toothbrush is noisy

Features 10 pressure settings to choose from (up to 110 PSI)

Comes with 3 tips

Water capacity for up to 90 seconds of cleaning

The Waterpik WP-950 Complete Care is a solution designed for people who are looking to buy an electric toothbrush and a water flosser in a single package. It shares plenty of features with the very best Waterpik flossers such as Ultra and Aquarius, but it also comes with a sonic electric toothbrush as an addition.

The WP-950 offers 10 different pressure settings which is the same as you get with top-end Waterpik flossers. The capacity of the reservoir is large enough to provide up to 90-second of cleaning routine without a need to refill the tank.

Waterpik WP-950 vs. Aquarius

The main difference between the WP-950 and our top pick Aquarius is that the WP-950 comes with only 5 additional tips compared to the 7 you get with Aquarius. The tips are the same for both Aquarius and WP-950 and they cost the same.

What about the toothbrush?

The electric toothbrush that comes in the package isn’t the most advanced in the world, but it’s effective and it’s advertised as a better alternative of a manual toothbrush. It has a rechargeable battery and interchangeable brush heads. It uses similar technology as Sonicare toothbrushes, and comes with 4 brush heads included in the package. Additional brush heads are relatively cheap compared to competing manufacturers which makes it a very interesting low-priced electric toothbrush.

The downside of electric toothbrush is that it only offers two different cleaning modes and is quite noisy. But the truth is that you can’t expect it to be as advanced as the best electric toothbrushes on the market because it’s more affordable than most of them and it would be only fair to compare it with electric toothbrushes in the lowest price range.

Best portable water flossers

Waterpik Cordless Advanced

Pros Modern design

Modern design Compatible with 100-240/VAC outlets

Compatible with 100-240/VAC outlets Easy to use

Easy to use 3 pressure settings Cons Expensive compared to similar cordless water flossers

Features 3 pressure settings – high, medium, low

Comes with 4 tips

Water capacity for 45 seconds of cleaning

Dimensions: 3.1 x 5.1 x 9.1 inches

Comes with a travel bag

Although Waterpik produces several portable water flossers, we picked the Advanced (WP-562) as the best one because compared to others it features electronic pressure control, inductive charging, comes with the highest number of tips (4), has the largest reservoir (capacity for 45 seconds of flossing) and because it’s fully waterproof. You can use it while showering, but keep in mind that you need to let it dry completely before charging the battery just to be safe.

Ultra quiet design

Many water flossers on the market right now look great, are easy to use, but they are quite loud. Noise is one of the things no one needs early in the morning. The Waterpik Cordless Advanced features an extra quiet design and we believe that it’s one of the least noisy portable water flossers we have reviewed.

The four tips that are included:

2x Classic Jet tip

1x Plaque seeker tip

1x Orthodontic tip

Another advantage of the Waterpik cordless flosser is that it’s quite easy to use. Simply fill the reservoir with water, choose one of three pressure settings, point the tip to desired area in mouth and floss. It also comes with a microfiber bag designed for traveling.

ToiletTree Poseidon

Pros Portable

Portable Easy to use

Easy to use Design

Design Low noise levels Cons Only 2 tips included

Only 2 tips included Low water capacity

Features 1-year warranty

2 included tips

Very lightweight

Lithium-ion battery

The ToiletTree Poseidon is a simple, low-priced, and portable water flosser designed to remove plaque and to serve as a convenient replacement for dental floss. It comes in stylish white and blue design and we believe that it’s one of the best looking portable water flossers on the market right now. Don’t mix the Poseidon with the older ToiletTree water flosser because the Poseidon is an upgraded and redesigned version.

3 operating modes

It features three operating modes: soft, normal, and pulse. Unfortunately ToiletTree doesn’t provide the details about the exact pressure of each setting so we could compare it with other water flossers.

The downside of the Poseidon is that it only comes with two tips. A pack of four additional tips can be purchased separately though, but it would be nice if ToiletTree included them in this affordable package. Another downside is that the reservoir is quite small compared to many other portable flossers on our list, so you might find yourself in a situation when you need to refill the water to finish 90-second flossing routine.

Panasonic EW1211A

Pros Portable

Portable 30 second cleaning routine

30 second cleaning routine Improves gum health

Improves gum health Auto-burst feature Cons NiMH battery

Features

Panasonic is one of the world’s most recognizable brands and it would be a surprise if they wouldn’t produce water flossers as well. The EW1211A is one of the very few Panasonic water flossers on the market right now and we were quite impressed with it.

The EW1211A features three different pressure settings which is standard for most portable water flossers.

The jet mode operates at 1500 pulses per minute and is designed for removing large food particles.

The regular mode is a little bit less intense and is designed for removing smaller food particles and plaque.

The soft mode is the least intense and is appropriate for sensitive teeth and gentle gum massage to improve the circulation of blood.

Unfortunately just like the ToiletTree Poseidon, the EW1211A only comes with two tips. However, it seems that Panasonic replacement tips are a little bit cheaper than the ones manufactured by ToiletTree, but the water flosser itself comes with a spicier price. It’s also worth mentioning that the EW1211A comes with NiMH battery compared to Lithium-ion of the ToiletTree which is a downside.

Sonicare Airfloss

Pros Portable

Portable 30 second cleaning routine

30 second cleaning routine Improves gum health

Improves gum health Auto-burst feature Cons Only 1 nozzle included

Only 1 nozzle included Small filling hole

Small filling hole Single pressure setting

Features

Although Sonicare is more famous for electric toothbrushes, they have been in the market of water flossers for quite some time. A few years ago Waterpik only offered larger water flossers and the Airfloss was able to gain a lot of popularity and dominate the market of portable water flossers. However, it seems that the Airfloss started falling behind as soon as Waterpik introduced the newest generation of their cordless water flossers.

Auto burst technology

The Airfloss uses auto burst technology. Instead of constantly spraying water, the auto burst technology uses a mixture of water and air to spray the water in separated bursts. Once you get used to the cleaning routine, you can clean the entire mouth in as little as 30 seconds while moving the tip from one tooth to another between burst intervals. Unfortunately that’s the only cleaning routine the Airfloss has to offer which is clearly not much by today’s standards since all water flossers we have reviewed offer at least 3 different pressure settings.

Three downsides

There are three downsides of the Airfloss. The first one is that it only comes with a single tip. Replacement tips are more expensive than tips of most other manufacturers, so the costs of using it will build up on the long run. The second downside is the reservoir design. Although it has enough capacity for two uses, the filling hole is very small and it can be clumsy to fill it up with water. The final downside is the lack of pressure settings and cleaning routines.

Water flosser vs string floss

Both water flosser and sting floss are designed to serve equal purpose – to reduce plaque and bacteria that is nesting along the gum line and in hard to reach areas between teeth. But which one of them is more effective when it comes to removing plaque and bacteria?

Clinical studies

Results of a 2013 clinical study by The journal of clinical dentistry concluded that using a manual toothbrush and water flosser is significantly more effective in removing plaque from teeth surface than using an ordinary dental string floss and a manual toothbrush.

While some dentists disagree and are sceptical about whether water flossers are efficient enough to replace string floss, it’s clear that they have numerous benefits that are impossible to overlook. For once, they are easy to use, especially for people who wear braces. Simply fill the reservoir with water, choose the pressure setting, press on the power button and floss by moving it from one teeth to another along the gum line.

Another advantage is that because water flossers use water, they provide more intense feeling of freshness and many consumers find them more fun to use, although that’s just a matter of personal preference. Most consumers find string floss boring which is most likely one of the main reason why many children and adults in the US have such poor flossing habits.

Buying guide

Before you rush to buying a new water flosser, there are a few important things you should know. Here’s our extended buying guide that will help you find the best one for your needs.

Portable vs cord flossers Water flossers can be either standard or portable. Standard water flossers feature a large water tank incorporated into the device itself, and a small handle that’s connected to the main device through a flexible cord. The advantage of cord flossers is that they are often more powerful and feature larger tanks that are able to hold more water which makes them easy to finish 90-second cleaning routine without needing to fill up the reservoir, and they don’t need batteries to operate because they are powered through an outlet. Their downside is that they are quite large and very inconvenient if you want to carry them around while traveling. Portable water flossers are much smaller because they have an in-built tank. They are powered through either Lithium-ion or NiMH rechargeable batteries that can provide several days of flossing with a single charge. The downside is that they often don’t hold enough water to complete a 90-second flossing routine without having to refill them with water, and many of them aren’t as powerful as standard flossers.

Pressure settings Most water flossers offer several different pressure settings to choose from. Gentle settings are appropriate for sensitive teeth and gum massage while more powerful modes are appropriate for deep and effective cleaning. The pressure of the most powerful settings can reach over 115 PSI of pressure which is often too much for an average consumer. Having a few gentle pressure settings is also very handy if you suffer from temporary gum sensitivity. Most water flossers offer about 3 or 4 different pressure settings on average while the best ones feature 10 or more of them.

Tips / nozzles Water flossers costs from $40 to $80 on average. More expensive flossers usually offer more features and are manufacturers by more reputable brands that have the ability to offer longer warranty coverages and better customer service.

History of flossing

Flossing has been around since prehistoric times when archaic humans used horse hair as floss and twigs as toothpicks.

Here's an infographic about the history of flossing

FAQ

Can I use water flosser if I wear braces?

Yes. Dental hygiene is especially important if you are wearing braces because plaque can start nesting on areas between wires and teeth and that’s why flossing while wearing braces requires even more attention. It’s also important mentioning that some water flossers come with special tips specifically designed for people who wear braces.

How many times per day should I floss?

Most dentists recommend flossing at least once per day. The most appropriate time of the day for flossing is before bedtime or after the last meal.

Should I floss before or after I brush my teeth?

Most people prefer to floss first, but that’s just a matter of personal preference. There’s no big difference between flossing before or after brushing as long as you do a thorough job. Though some theories suggest that flossing before brushing allows the flouride in the toothpaste to penetrate deeper in the hard to reach areas between teeth.

How often should I replace flossing tips?

Waterpik recommends flossing tips to be replaced every 3 to 6 months. While most tips can easily last longer than that, the minerals can build inside of it and reduce the efficiency of the device. It’s always good to check what manufacturers are recommending because they use different materials to manufacture tips.

What’s the difference between NiMH and Lithium ion battery?

NiMH batteries are larger, heavier, less expensive and less powerful compared to Lithium ion batteries. While Lithium ion batteries are better in almost every compartment, NiMH batteries still have longer lifespan.

Conclusion

Water flossers can be a great and more fun to use replacement to traditional floss. The debates whether they are more effective or not are divided among some professionals, but the fact is that the efficiency of water flossers is backed up by several clinical studies and most people find them more fun to use.

At the end of the day you can have the most expensive and the most advanced water flosser in the world, but if you don’t floss daily and on a regular basis, it’s all for nothing.

If you already have your favorite water flosser and if you have a suggestion about our top 10 list, don’t hesitate and let us know by submitting a comment down below!