The 7 Best Water Flossers
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When it comes to oral care, flossing might not happen as often as it should. But the right water flosser can make it a seamless part of your daily routine. Water flossers are small powered devices that use water pressure to clean between teeth and around the gum line, removing plaque and other buildups that can cause inflammation, gum disease, and cavities.
According to Cheryline Pezzullo, DDS, Director for Community-based Programs at NYU College of Dentistry, water flossers can be particularly beneficial for individuals with gingivitis, braces, aligners, or those with difficulty using traditional dental floss. The pulsating water offers a gentle yet thorough cleaning of areas not easily reached by brushing. Water flossers come in a wide range of options, from compact, cordless models suitable for travel to high-powered countertop versions for deep cleaning. To find the best water flosser, Dr. Pezzullo recommends looking for models with adjustable pressure settings, easy-to-clean reservoirs, a variety of nozzle tips for personalized cleaning, and the American Dental Association (ADA)’s seal of acceptance.
Based on this expert advice, we tested 32 water flossers from brands like Waterpik and Aquasonic based on effectiveness, ease of use, settings, and overall value. Our top picks balance effective cleaning with a user-friendly design and key features that ensure an effortless flossing experience. We also had an orthodontist on our Medical Expert Board review this article for medical and scientific accuracy.
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Why We Like It
We found the Waterpik Aquarius a solid flosser, not too complicated or too simplistic, with a long-lasting water tank that allowed us to get all the gunk out of our teeth without feeling rushed. We found it superbly effective because our teeth felt spotlessly clean after using it, even when we opted for the lower, more gentle settings.
One of the toughest things about using a water flosser, if you have braces, is that it can be hard to manipulate, especially for kids who might have trouble managing a larger-size flosser. But we think the Aquarius’s smaller handle would be perfect for kids (or those with smaller hands, in general).
We were impressed with the settings on the Aquarius, too. It features ten pressure settings, which are adjustable on the flosser base, a timer that alerts you after both 30 and 60 seconds of use, and seven nozzle tips for different purposes (or family members). If you want a countertop water flosser with a long-lasting reservoir and don’t mind sticking close to the sink while you floss, the Aquarius is a standout from Waterpik.
It’s Worth Noting
- The cord connecting the flosser to the reservoir is noticeably short; it made using the handle a little more difficult.
Product Details
- Dimensions: 10.8 x 5.25 x 6 inches
- Reservoir Size: 22 ounces
- Pressure Settings: 10
- Attachment Nozzles: 7
- Extra Features: Built-in timer
Health / Joy Kim
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Why We Like It
While we we’re first impressed with it’s price, the Aquasonic Aqua Flosser proved to be a great water flosser in many ways. Ergonomics—how comfortable the water flosser is to hold and operate—is so important, and that’s just one area where this Aquasonic model really excels. With its easy-to-operate on-off switch and how simple it was to toggle between settings mid-use, we think it is well designed and has a nice shape to the handle.
When it comes to separating good water flossers from great water flossers, pressure settings and reservoir size are important factors. While it only has three settings they are effective and get the job done. The pulse mode, in particular, was one of our favorites—it did an excellent job getting gunk out from in between our teeth.
To get a thorough clean, you need a flosser with a large enough tank that won’t require refilling or cut your session short before you can reach every nook and cranny of your mouth. We are incredibly impressed with the tank size on the Aquasonic chiefly because it is a cordless design—typically, cordless models sacrifice tank size to be compact enough to handle. Plus, we found the tank easy to fill. Finding a cordless water flosser that’s high-powered and has a tank long enough to last through an entire cleaning session is a tall order. And at this price, we don’t think you can do better.
It’s Worth Noting
- This isn’t the fanciest water flosser available, so you should keep reading if you want something with more advanced settings.
Product Details
- Dimensions: 3 x 4 x 10 inches
- Reservoir Size: 150 mL
- Pressure Settings: 3
- Attachment Nozzles: 4
- Extra Features: Includes travel pouch
Health / Tamara Staples
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Why We Like It
If you’ve never used a water flosser before and aren’t sure if it’s right for you, a basic cordless option is the best way to experiment with a flosser without the commitment of a more complicated unit. The Waterpik Cordless Advanced’s lightweight, minimalist design is for anyone new to water flossing.
We found the reservoir easy to fill, and the water lasted much longer than the 45 seconds indicated on the package. We also like that it was easy to set up the product, and using it is very intuitive. However, with only three pressure settings, the Waterpik Cordless Advanced doesn’t offer a highly customized experience. It did a decent job cleaning our teeth—in some tests, we felt like our teeth were thoroughly cleaned after a minute, while in others, we noticed some residue and thought there was a little too much water to manage in our mouths. While it might be too simplistic for some, we recommend the Waterpik Cordless Advanced for first-time users and anyone concerned that string floss alone isn’t providing enough benefit to their oral care routine.
It’s Worth Noting
- You won’t find any special or standout features here; this is a basic flosser that simply gets the job done.
Product Details
- Dimensions: 11.65 x 2.7 x 3.8 inches
- Reservoir Size: 7 ounces
- Pressure Settings: 3
- Attachment Nozzles: 4
- Extra Features: Travel pouch
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Why We Like It
We found the MySmile to be a uniquely user-friendly experience, thanks to its digital design and travel-friendly features. Throw in a free travel pouch, and you get a water flosser perfect for stashing in a bag or suitcase and taking it with you wherever you’re going.
Although the MySmile is battery-powered and compact, it still manages to include a 350-milliliter tank, which is the largest of all the cordless flossers we tested. That means you get more use out of the flosser before needing to refill but for roughly the same size and cost as other flossers featured here.
We appreciated the digital features of the MySmile, which made the operation much easier: We can see the water temperature, pressure settings, and battery life at a glance, elevating the appearance and the actual usage of the flosser beyond some others we tried. We also like the variety of nozzle attachments, especially the one with the bristle brush; using it felt like brushing and flossing at the same time.
One area where the MySmile came up a little short was the ease of use; we found changing the pressure settings to be a little confusing and weren’t sure whether to use the “soft” setting or the “child” setting for the lowest pressure. But this didn’t affect how well the MySmile worked—it gave us that “totally clean” feeling, and the digital design truly heightened our experience in testing.
It’s Worth Noting
- You may need to play around a little with the settings until you find one that works best for you.
Product Details
- Dimensions: Not listed
- Reservoir Size: 350 ml
- Pressure Settings: 5
- Attachment Nozzles: 8
- Extra Features: None
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Why We Like It
As an electric toothbrush and flosser in one, the Sonic Fusion 2.0 allows you to brush, floss, or do both at the same time—and we found it super easy to toggle back and forth between settings, making it a clear choice for best electric toothbrush-water flosser combo.
The unit features a large reservoir but is still compact, a rarity in countertop flossing units. It’s downright sleek and is designed to look nice on your bathroom counter, in addition to being a solid water flosser.
The Fusion doesn’t just look good, either: We found it both effective and easy to use. Whether we’re using the pik flosser or the toothbrush (or both), the Sonic Fusion left our mouths feeling instantly clean, as if they had just had their teeth scrubbed by a professional.
We also like that the interface is simple to navigate, with a dial to control the pressure setting to specific levels and more convenient handheld-based controls to adjust function settings when switching from brushing to flossing. If you don’t have time to mess around with an entirely separate oral care device, the Sonic Fusion performs both functions well and saves time.
It’s Worth Noting
- Because of the combination brush-flosser, you won’t get any nozzle variety with this model.
Product Details
- Dimensions: 10.9 x 5.25 x 6 inches
- Reservoir Size: 16 ounces
- Pressure Settings: 10
- Attachment Nozzles: 2
- Extra Features: Built-in timer, travel case, recharge indicator
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Why We Like It
We found the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 5000 to be the best pick for those with braces because it was extremely efficient in cleaning our entire mouth thoroughly. Our test came after indulging in some nachos, and we were pleased to find that our mouths felt completely clean afterward.
The setup process was straightforward. We started by plugging in the base, followed by filling the reservoir. The lid is attached easily and secured well. The instructions provided were clear and helpfully included guidance for cleaning with braces, which we appreciated. This model boasts a ‘Clean’ and ‘Deep Clean’ mode, complemented by ten intensity settings, making it versatile for different cleaning needs. We found it very easy to switch between pressure settings as needed.
The Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 5000 delivers a very effective whole-mouth clean. Considering its effectiveness, we believe the price point of $99 is justified. Its compact size and light weight make it an appealing choice for an effective, space-saving water flosser.
It’s Worth Noting
- Despite its impressive range of intensity settings, some users might find even the lowest setting to be too powerful or intense, especially if they have sensitive gums or are new to water flossing.
Product Details
- Dimensions: 5.32 x 5.91 x 9.92 inches
- Reservoir Size: 550 mL
- Pressure Settings: 10
- Attachment Nozzles: 3
- Extra Features: Magnetic dock w/auto shut-off
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Why We Like It
We found the Quip Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser to be highly effective at removing plaque and debris, making it a great alternative to traditional floss or picks. Since testing, we’ve been flossing much more regularly—a clear testament to its convenience! Our teeth feel noticeably cleaner and smoother compared to our previous dental routine.
The Quip flosser comes with a single nozzle attachment and offers two pressure settings—gentle and deep clean. Its minimalist design is simple but effective. The cordless nature makes it easy to handle, even though it’s slightly bulky. The controls are user-friendly, with accessible buttons for selecting water pressure and stream mode (continuous or on-demand). The rotating nozzle is a big plus, helping us reach those hard-to-access areas, though it does require a little effort to reposition due to its strong magnetic attachment.
The USB charging feature is sleek and convenient. It stands upright while charging, adding to the flosser’s overall ease of use. The replacement nozzles, which need to be swapped every three months, can add up in cost, but overall, this is one of the best cordless options for a simple, effective water flosser.
It’s Worth Noting
The water in the reservoir runs out quickly, especially when using the more powerful deep clean setting, requiring frequent refills during longer flossing sessions.
Product Details
- Dimensions: 9.29 x 3.78 x 2.64 inches
- Reservoir Size: 150 mL
- Pressure Settings: 2
- Attachment Nozzles: 1
- Extra Features: Magnetic charging cable
- Countertop or Cordless: Designed for frequent use, countertop flossers are powerful but have a large water reservoir and require a constant power source. Cordless water flossers are more compact and typically rechargeable, making them great for smaller spaces and on the go.
- Reservoir Size: Large water tanks allow longer and more regular flossing without frequent refills. Smaller tanks offer less capacity but more portability.
- Pressure Settings: Choose a flosser with speed and pressure settings that best suit your oral health needs and personal comfort. Finding the right pressure setting will help remove plaque and debris while being gentle on your gums.
- Nozzles: The classic jet tip is the most common; however, specialized tips can be helpful when used appropriately. The orthodontic tip flexes around brackets, the periodontal tip delivers medication, and the plaque tip is useful for crowns and implants.
- Additional Features: Some flossers include extras like replacement nozzles, travel cases, USB charging, water flow modes, and timers that alert you at the one—or two-minute mark for the recommended flossing time.
To find the best water flossers to add to your oral care routine, we tested 32 popular water flossers in the Health Lab and our own bathrooms at home for one month. With guidance from our experts, we incorporated the water flossers into our oral care routine at least five times a week and rated their performance based on the following attributes:
- Ease of Use and Settings: We set up each device, filled the tanks with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and evaluated the different tips and pressure settings.
- Effectiveness: We used each device to clean near the gumline and between our teeth. We noted how well each water flosser removed debris and plaque from their teeth, whether it left anything behind, how it handled in hard-to-reach places, how easy the different settings were to navigate, and how quickly the device ran through water in the tank.
- Overall Value: We evaluated water flossers based on performance, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. Factors like plaque removal, reservoir size, water pressure settings, portability, and long-term maintenance costs were considered.
To assist with our research and testing, we sought advice from dentists and oral hygiene experts on using water flossers and the best products to recommend.
- Michele Bishop, DDS, founder and owner of Ingram Hills Dental in San Antonio, Texas, and the co-host of the YouTube Channel Tipsy Tooth Talk
- Ghias Jabbour, DDS, owner of Blanco Crossing Dental in San Antonio, Texas
- Cheryline Pezzullo, DDS, Director for Community-based Programs at NYU College of Dentistry
Water Flossers vs. Traditional Floss
Water flossers can be highly effective in removing plaque and maintaining gum health. A 2013 study found that a water flosser combined with a manual toothbrush was 29% more effective at removing plaque, especially on approximate surfaces, than waxed string floss.
While both water flossers and traditional string flossing are effective, Dr. Pezzullo suggests that water flossers may be more comfortable and easier to use, leading to better compliance with regular flossing.
How to Use a Water Flosser Safely
To incorporate water flossing into your dental routine, use it after brushing your teeth. Aim the nozzle at a 90-degree angle to the gumline and between each tooth, spending a few seconds on each. Start with a low-pressure setting and gradually increase if comfortable. Consistency is key, Dr. Pezzullo adds, so aim to use it at least once a day.
According to Dr. Bishop, Waterpiks and water flossers cannot damage the teeth or gums because water alone cannot harm the structure of your teeth. They may initially cause mild irritation, which is normal. Dr. Bishop also mentions that some people may experience bleeding similar to traditional flossing when they first use a water flosser, particularly if the gum tissue is inflamed or diseased. As the biofilm and plaque that are causing the inflammation decrease, the bleeding should also stop.
Benefits of Using a Water Flosser
You can tell your water flossing routine is working by observing healthier gums, reduced bleeding during dental cleanings, and an overall improvement in oral hygiene, says Dr. Pezzullo. Regular dental check-ups will allow your dentist to assess the effectiveness of your oral care routine and make any necessary recommendations.
We also tested these water flossers but ultimately decided not to include them in our list of recommendations. They fell short in our test when it came to technology, features, and functionality:
- Waterpik Nano Plus: Our tester thought this flosser was small and compact, with a sizable reservoir, but for the cost, we prefer some other options from Waterpik.
- Waterpik Cordless Express: This powerful flosser is nearly ready to use out of the box. It has two settings, which would work fine for someone who needs a lot of intensity—our testers noted that the lowest setting is still pretty strong.
- Waterpik ION Professional: The Ion is sleek, compact, and easy to use, but we weren’t as impressed with its quality. The nozzle attachment fell off mid-use, and our tester struggled to reassemble it correctly.
- Waterpik Cordless Pearl: We found the Pearl is better for travel than everyday use. Our tester noted that it was messy to use along the front teeth, and the attachment needed re-inserting a few times.
Sarah Bradley has been a freelance writer since 2017, tackling health commerce articles, product reviews, and shopping guides on everything from dry skin moisturizers and wart removers to menstrual cups and toothbrushes for braces. She has personally tested electric toothbrushes and water flossers, so knows what makes a good product stand out from a great one (and really, really wants to tell you about it).
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