Health
Best water flossers 2024: Top 6 oral irrigators from Waterpik, Bitvae and more
Investing in one of the best water flossers is an easy and effective way to step up your oral hygiene routine. These devices shoot streams of water to remove plaque and food debris from hard-to-reach areas between the teeth and below the gum line. The best water flossers offer all the benefits of traditional flossing — but unlike dental floss or dental picks, they are time-efficient, easy to use, and comfortable to hold.
Water flossers, also known as oral irrigators, can be particularly useful for people with braces, crowns, or implants. For those with periodontal pockets — spaces that open up around the teeth and below the gum line that can become filled with harmful bacteria — these devices can be a lifesaver. Most of the best water flossers on the market offer an array of nozzles to suit different dental needs. Some even offer tongue scrapers to give you that whole-mouth clean feeling.
However, we know that choosing the right water flosser is not an easy task, especially for those who have never used one before. But that’s where we step in. At Live Science, we have tried and tested some of the best water flossers on the market, from countertop devices that offer a generous water reservoir to cordless water flossers that you can use in a shower or take on trips. Here are our all-time favorites.
To help you achieve an even deeper clean, consider getting one of the best electric toothbrushes, too.
The best water flosser overall
The Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser features no fewer than 10 pressure settings to help remove up to 99.9% of plaque from the teeth. Perfect for people with braces, crowns, implants, periodontal pockets or bridges, and those who value good oral hygiene, it plugs into a shaver socket to offer continuous charge. The flosser itself is connected to the water reservoir by a lead which springs tidily back into place when you're done flossing.
Waterpik is just one of two water flosser brands approved by the American Dental Association. This means it has been tested and found to be safe and effective at removing plaque and reducing gingivitis.
The Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser offers six separate attachments for flossing, including a Classic Jet Tip and a Toothbrush Tip to allow you to brush as you floss. All these can be stored safely and hygienically in the flip-top lid at the top of the water reservoir.
Users love their Waterpik Ultra Water Flossers, with 4.7 stars out of five on the Waterpik website. Many say their dentists or hygienists have recommended this model to them, and they're delighted with the clean feeling they get after flossing. Negative reviews focus on the fact that just one set of attachments is included, which means an extra outlay if more than one person wants to use the flosser.
The manufacturers say the Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser is 15% more powerful than previous models, while the generous water reservoir offers 90 seconds of continuous flossing. It was by far the easiest water flosser we've tested to fill and wipe clean after use, and the 90 seconds of tank capacity makes it easy to floss the whole mouth without needing to refill it.
However, the Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser won't suit every bathroom. It needs to be plugged in to operate, and not all bathrooms have a shaving socket or a shelf close enough to the basin for comfortable flossing. Those who prefer to floss in the shower will need to look for a cordless version instead.
- Read our full Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser review
Best low-cost water flosser
The unusual design of the cordless Oclean W10 Water Flosser sets it apart from many of its rivals. It includes a thick strap along the length of the unit to allow for a better grip during use. A tactile button is easy to locate while flossing if you want to change the pressure settings too.
The lithium-ion battery lasts up to a month if used once daily and recharges in around four hours using a USB connection, making this a perfect option for traveling.
This water flosser comes with four attachment nozzles, including a standard nozzle, one for periodontal pockets, one for braces and a tongue-scraping nozzle. It also includes five pressure settings ranging from gentle to intensive.
The Oclean W10 Water Flosser has garnered an impressive 4.9 stars out of five on the Oclean website, with 89% of happy customers giving it the full five stars. They enjoy the easy grip with the leather strap, the long battery life and the ability to charge it via a USB. However, many users say they find the reservoir too small, having to refill multiple times during a flossing session.
During our at-home testing, we found the water tank ran out fairly quickly during flossing, especially using the intensive mode. However, the tank was easy to refill via the plug located at the top of the flosser. It also includes a quad-pacer to remind you to switch positions and a two-minute timer to ensure you do a thorough job.
- Read our full Oclean W10 Water Flosser review
Best water flosser for braces
The high-performing Spotlight Oral Care Water Flosser offers a range of flossing tips designed for different dental needs, making it a particularly good choice for those with braces. This oral irrigator uses a combination of water pressure and pulsations to remove bacteria and plaque from below the gum line and deep between the teeth. It features three pressure settings (normal, soft and pulse) that are adjusted using the single button at the front of the handle.
It comes with a handy USB charger and takes around six hours to reach a full charge, for which you'll get approximately 30 minutes of flossing. It also includes a tongue scraper, a periodontal pocket sprinkler, classic jet tip and orthodontic spray tip. The classic jet tip is excellent for general cleaning, while the orthodontic spray is designed for users with braces. Finally, the periodontal pocket sprinkler is suitable for inflamed gums or impacted teeth.
Reviews are fairly positive, with 3.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Users say their teeth feel clean, and those with braces, crowns and bridges enjoy the orthodontic tip. However, negative reviews say it's too hard to fill the reservoir, and the capacity is too small for thorough cleaning without having to refill multiple times.
Unusually the small water reservoir is contained within the body of the handle instead of as a clip-on or screw-on reservoir, which was a little unnerving during our at-home testing. In addition, we found it tricky to fill, and you will need to refill several times if you want to enjoy a thorough floss. Our tester only got a few seconds of use on a high setting before having to refill.
It also took some time to get used to the fact that the reservoir compresses during flossing. However, the compact size of this water flosser makes it ideal for Traveling.
- Read our full Spotlight Oral Care Water Flosser review
Best water flosser to use in a shower
The Waterpik Cordless Select features a waterproof design, USB magnetic charging and two pressure settings to give you a more affordable and mobile version of the classic countertop Waterpik flosser.
The cordless design is perfect if you're already a Waterpik fan but want something to take into the shower. It features fewer pressure settings and nozzle attachments than the countertop Waterpik, but we think that's more than enough for most flossers. Nozzles include a tip for braces and a plaque-seeker tip, while it also offers two classic tips — ideal if you're sharing your water flosser with a partner. We thought the jet tip was the most useful for getting into hard to reach places on the highest setting.
With 4.1 stars out of five on Amazon, the Waterpik Cordless Select remains popular with users. They praise how easy it is to use and say the battery holds its charge very well. They also like how quiet it is during operation. As one user puts it: "I wanted a water pick that I could pack when I travel, that was rechargeable, and that was a name brand. This one met them all." Negative reviews mention a lack of power, the small water reservoir, and the absence of a travel bag, which would have been a nice touch from Waterpik.
Two pressure settings (a low of 45 PSI and a high of 75 PSI) offer a gentle clean, or vigorous floss. However, the small water reservoir means you're more than likely to have to refill at least once during your flossing session. That's not unusual for cordless flossers, though.
A ridged wheel at the top of the unit makes it super easy to rotate any nozzle 360 degrees, even with wet hands. We also liked the grippy handle with bumps, so you're less at risk of dropping it if you do have wet hands.
- Read our full Waterpik Cordless Select review
Best water flosser for traveling
The Bitvae C2 water flosser offers a convenient and affordable way to floss your teeth on the go. This cordless oral irrigator is compact, thoughtfully designed, and can last up to 40 days on a single charge. It also comes with five classic jet nozzles, a tongue scraper nozzle, and a handy USB charging cable.
The C2 model is more ergonomic than traditional water flossers due to its detachable, wide-mouth water tank a large 10oz-capacity (300ml) water reservoir. It is also easy to clean, comfortable to hold, and does not need constant refilling. Moreover, the Bitvae C2 water flosser looks great on the bathroom shelf — it is available in nine colors and does not take up much space.
The Bitvae C2 water flosser scores 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with more than two thirds of users giving it the full five stars. Positive reviews praise this oral irrigator for its powerful performance, portability, and ease of use. As one user commented, “It feels well made, easy to use & hold, houses more water than most on the market - on par with similar branded ones for less the price!”. Negative reviews often cite the awkward placement of the power button and that the water flosser can make a lot of mess on high-pressure settings.
We were impressed by its performance, too. The Bitvae C2 water flosser gave us a clean and polished feel, and its powerful water jet was slim enough to effectively target hard-to-reach areas around the gum line.
On the other hand, the Bitvae C2 water flosser comes with no orthodontic tips. We also did not enjoy using its tongue scraper. Lastly, this flosser may be relatively noisy.
- Read our full Bitvae C2 Water Flosser review
Best water flosser with toothbrush
The Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 combines a water flosser and an electric toothbrush into one cost-effective device. This sleek-looking piece of kit is not small, but it is compact enough to suit those short on shelf space. It also comes with a storage case, a travel case, five different water flosser tips, and two brush heads. More importantly, this toothbrush-flosser combo delivers a market-leading performance.
The Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 offers 3 cleaning modes — General Clean, a more intense Whitening Mode, and a Massage Mode to stimulate the gum area — as well as a tongue-cleaning feature, water pressure control, and a handy 3-minute timer. All three cleaning modes scored high in our at-home tests, but we were most impressed with the Massage Mode. The gentle pulses were easy on our gums, yet powerful enough to give us that ‘deep clean’ feeling.
The Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 is rated at 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 76% of users giving it the top score. Positive reviews praise this toothbrush-flosser combo for its powerful performance, ease of use, and handy timer function. Negative reviews often cite leakage from the water tank, the battery not charging properly, and the water flosser being too loud.
We liked its battery life, too. This toothbrush-flosser combo can last a week on a single charge, making it a perfect travel accessory. It does not generate much noise, either.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks to the Waterpik Complete Care 9.0. The unit needs to be plugged into a socket close to the wash basin, otherwise it will not work. Also, it does not provide additional features typically seen in devices at this price point, such as connected apps or pressure sensors.
- Read our full Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 review.
How we test
How do we test water flossers at Live Science?
During our at-home testing, the Live Science team uses the same protocol to test each water flosser. This includes using the water flosser on each of its pressure settings, trying out each nozzle to note any differences in performance or intensity, and checking battery duration. We also assess the design of each water flosser, how easy it is to use, and how easy it is to clean. All of this is taking into consideration to award each product a score out of a possible five stars.
FAQs
Are water flossers effective?
Although independent clinical research into water flossers is still in its infancy, early results show water flossing can be just as effective as regular flossing in removing plaque.
A randomized controlled trial in the Saudi Dental Journal looked at how efficient a water flosser was compared to regular flossing. After just one use of each, they found that water flossers were as efficient as regular floss in removing interdental plaque. As a result, they concluded that water flossing could be recommended for people who struggle with regular flossing, either because of the manual dexterity it requires or because they have dental work, such as braces, bridges or implants.
Similarly, a study in the International Journal of Dentistry compared dental floss with a water flosser in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. They found that the water flosser was as effective as the dental floss overall, but it was also more effective than the dental floss at removing plaque from the molars.
Not flossing at all carries a higher risk of oral hygiene problems, including gum inflammation and disease. A study in Compendium compared a group of people who only brushed their teeth with another group who brushed their teeth and used a water flosser. The group who added water flossing to their dental hygiene routine had significantly improved gum health after just four weeks.
Given the evidence, water flossers appear to be effective at improving oral hygiene and lowering the risk of gum disease.
Can a water flosser replace flossing?
If you find regular flossing uncomfortable or hard to manage, or if you have dental work that makes it difficult to carry out regular flossing, there's no reason why you can't try a water flosser instead.
In fact, the American Dental Association (ADA) says water flossing can be a great option for people who have trouble flossing by hand, such as people with braces, or permanent or fixed bridges.
However, while approving certain water flosser brands for removing plaque, it's worth noting that the ADA has yet to state that a water flosser is more effective than regular flossing.
If you're not sure whether to opt for a water flosser over your regular dental floss, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist. They may recommend a water flosser if they think you're more likely to use it daily. As we all know, regular flossing, rather than the style of flossing, is more important to good oral hygiene.
Do water flossers work?
Water flossers have gained lots of attention in recent years, prompting numerous studies to look at their effectiveness. Most of these compare water flossers to traditional flossing and interdental brushes.
We’ve taken a deeper dive into research within the last decade and asked an expert to determine if water flossers are more effective than interdental brushes and regular flossing.
The results look promising. A 2021 study in the Saudi Dental Journal compared the effectiveness of a water flosser versus regular floss in removing plaque after a single use. The results demonstrated that the water flosser was equally efficient in eliminating interdental plaque compared to traditional floss. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that water flossing could benefit people lacking the manual dexterity needed for regular flossing.
There’s more good news for people undergoing orthodontic treatment. Water flossers can make a big difference for people with braces, bridges, or implants by tackling those challenging areas that are tough to clean with traditional floss or interdental brushes.
Live Science spoke to Dr. Khurrum Hussain, a clinical periodontist at Bupa Dental Care, to find out more. “I recommend using water flossers alongside an effective tooth-brushing technique focusing on toothbrushes and interdental brushes,” Dr. Hussain told us.
“They’re particularly beneficial for patients undergoing orthodontic therapy who may have difficulty using interdental brushes or dental floss.”
A 2022 study in the International Journal of Dentistry took a closer look at this. Researchers asked participants to floss one side of their mouth with regular dental floss and the other with a water flosser. Surprisingly, they discovered no significant difference in oral hygiene between the two methods. This finding further confirms that water flossers could be ideal for individuals with dental work. So, if you're undergoing orthodontic treatment, a water flosser could be a game-changer for maintaining your oral health.
Overall, research backs up the effectiveness of water flossers and their benefits for specific dental situations. So, if you're looking for a convenient and efficient way to keep your gums healthy and plaque-free, a water flosser could be just what you need. However, if you’re happy with your traditional floss, it’s reassuring to know you’re not missing out on better oral health either!
How to use a water flosser
Use a water flosser once a day before brushing. This way, you can loosen and remove any plaque and food particles between your teeth and gums, then brush them away with your toothbrush and toothpaste. Using a water flosser before brushing can also help your toothpaste reach deeper into the spaces between your teeth, making it much more effective. Dr. Hussain agrees that timing is essential. “Use the water flosser before brushing your teeth with toothpaste. It removes debris from the spaces between the teeth, enabling better fluoride absorption from the toothpaste onto the enamel.”
Maintaining good oral hygiene is a breeze with a water flosser. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get the most out of yours:
- Fill it up: Begin by filling the reservoir of your water flosser with lukewarm water. If you want an extra boost, some models allow you to add mouthwash or antibacterial solutions.
- Choose the right tip: Select the flosser tip that suits your needs. Different options, such as standard, orthodontic, or periodontal tips, are available. Check the user manual to find the one that's best for you.
- Adjust the pressure: Most water flossers let you adjust the pressure settings. If you're new to using one, start with a lower pressure and gradually increase it as you become more comfortable.
- Sink-side setup: Lean over the sink to prevent any water from splashing around. It helps keep things tidy while you floss.
- Back to front: Place the flosser tip in your mouth. Dr. Hussain suggests closing your mouth around the nozzle to reduce splashing. Start with your back teeth and work your way forward. Guide the tip along your gum line.
- Angle it right: Aim the flosser at a 90-degree angle to your gum line, and move it along your teeth in a gentle sweeping motion. You should pause briefly between each tooth to allow the water to flush out debris. Dr. Hussain recommends keeping a few millimeters between the water flosser and your teeth, as the sensation can be intense.
- Slow and steady: Slowly move the flosser tip along your gum line, covering your teeth’s front and back surfaces. Take your time to clean each area thoroughly.
- Reach every nook and cranny: Remember to clean all areas, including your teeth's inner and outer surfaces. Pay special attention to those tricky spots like molars and spaces between teeth.
- Rinse time: After flossing, remove the flosser tip and empty any remaining water from the reservoir. Rinse the reservoir and the tip thoroughly to keep them clean and hygienic for your next use.
Many water flossers offer different pressure settings. You can opt for a gentle or soft setting if you have sensitive teeth and gums. You can select a regular or higher setting for a stronger water pulse. Adjust the pressure based on your comfort level and needs.
You can get nozzles designed for cleaning around braces, bridges, or implants.
Remember, it might take a little practice to get the hang of using a water flosser effectively. You might get a lot of splashback when you first start using one.
Check your water flosser manual or ask your dentist for guidance if you have any specific questions or concerns. Happy flossing!
Our Expert
Dr. Khurrum Hussain, a clinical periodontist at Bupa Dental Care. Dr Hussain is a highly experienced GDC registered Specialist Periodontist, and Implant Surgeon. He completed specialist training at the Eastman Dental Institute (UCL). As a practicing clinical periodontist, he manages both periodontal disease and complex restorative complications. He is now based in the North-west of England, where he is a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester Dental Hospital.
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