What Is the Best Water Flosser?
When you can’t be bothered to floss with string, a water flosser is a reliable alternative for blasting away remnants of lunch and preventing plaque buildup. To make sure you walk out of the bathroom feeling like you just left the dentist, we spent hours researching the different pressure settings, water capacities, attachment types, performance, and cost of the most popular options out there. We also spoke with dental hygienist Jessica Lewis, RDH and New York City dentist Dr. Michael J. Wei, DDS, FIADFE, for expert advice on choosing the best water flosser.
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There are 10 pressure settings and seven interchangeable tips.
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The cord between the flosser and tank can get in the way during use.
The exceptional level of personalization and high-quality components earned the Waterpik ION Professional Cordless Water Flosser our top spot. The device has 10 different pressure settings and seven different device tips, including those designed for dealing with dentures, braces, and areas that are more susceptible to plaque. With dozens of potential combinations, users can easily address their specific dental needs with minimal hassle.
This flosser comes with a 20-ounce water reservoir and is powered by a lithium-ion battery that lasts up to four weeks on a single charge. It comes with a three-year limited warranty, which is longer than most competitors. While the charging base is cordless and uses a USB connection instead of a wall plug, the flosser itself is tethered to the water reservoir with a cord.
Type: Cordless (though there is a cord between the flosser and water tank) | Water Capacity: 16 ounces | Pressure Settings: 10 | Attachments: 2 | Warranty: Limited 3 year
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It’s compact and portable, and the charge can last up to a month.
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It has only three pressure modes and one type of tip.
A quality water flosser doesn’t have to break the bank, and the SmileDirectClub Compact Water Flosser is no exception. This sleek, no-frills model is easy to use and even easier to store, with a cordless design that collapses down to just 5 inches. It holds a charge for up to a month and is water resistant, so you can bring it in the shower with you.
Because it is a value pick, this flosser doesn't have any extra features like some of its competitors. There are three different modes: soft, normal, and pulse for braces or deeper cleaning. Although it does come with a second tip attachment, it’s not a specialized one—it’s just a spare. For a basic water flosser, it does the job and provides a great value for the price, but it doesn’t provide a lot of options to customize.
Type: Cordless | Water Capacity: Enough for 60 seconds of flossing | Pressure Settings: 3 | Attachments: 1 | Warranty: N/A
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It has multiple setting combinations, a comfortable handle grip, and is easy to carry.
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The power and stream buttons are placed close enough together that they may lead to accidental button presses.
The Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced is a truly cordless flosser. It's fully self-contained and does not have a cord connecting it to an external water tank. Of course, the charging dock does need to be plugged in to recharge your device, but the actual operating device is cordless, which is very convenient. For added ease of use, its handle is particularly comfortable, thanks to a wide, textured grip.
There are six different combinations of pressure settings and nozzles (three pressures, two nozzle types) to get the exact flossing experience you need. The only real design flaw is that the two main buttons—power and an “on-demand” water stream—are right next to each other, and it's easy to accidentally bump one instead of the other. Besides that, it’s a handy and compact option that provides more options than you might expect.
Type: Cordless | Water Capacity: 5 ounces | Pressure Settings: 3 | Attachments: 2 | Warranty: 2 year
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