Best water flossers and Waterpik flossers - Which? (2024)

Table of Contents

The best water flossers The water flossers we tested Nicwell Smart Oral Irrigator Oral-B Aquacare 6 Pro-Expert Water Flosser Panasonic EW1511 Water Flosser Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser 3000 Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser WP-560UK Waterpik Cordless Plus Water Flosser WP-450UK Waterpik Ultra Professional Water Flosser WP-660UK Waterpik Whitening Professional Water Flosser WF-05UK How we test water flossers Do dentists actually recommend water flossers? Are water flossers better than string floss? How to use a water flosser How to clean a water flosser FAQs

The best water flossers leave your teeth feeling squeaky clean, are comfortable to use and can hold a charge for weeks. We've put bestselling corded and cordless water flossers – from £35 to more than £100 – to the test to bring you our top picks.

We tested a range of popular Waterpik water flossers against other leading oral healthcare brands, including Oral-B and Philips, as well as a cheaper pick from Amazon. We discovered that most water flossers provide a decent interdental clean. However, our Best Buys in our water flosser reviews below excel above the rest when it comes to battery life, cleaning time and how easy they are to control.

We've also spoken to a dentist for expert advice on how and when to use a water flosser as part of your brushing routine.

The best water flossers

Only logged-in Which? members can view the water flosser test results below.

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Cleaning performance	Battery life	Cleaning time from a full reservoir
Good	Excellent	Excellent
Excellent	Excellent	Average
Good	Excellent	Excellent
Excellent	Average	Average
Good	Good	Average
Good	Excellent	Average
Average	Good	Poor

Date tested: September 2023. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.

The water flossers we tested

All the water flossers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best water flossers from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendation below.

Nicwell Smart Oral Irrigator

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TypeCordless

AttachmentsThree standard tips, one plaque tip, one tongue cleaner

Reservoir capacity200ml

Cheapest price for replacement heads£9.99 at Amazon

Need to know26.5 x 6 x 8cm (HxWxD), USB-C charger, three pressure settings

Oral-B Aquacare 6 Pro-Expert Water Flosser

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TypeCordless

Panasonic EW1511 Water Flosser

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TypeCordless

AttachmentsTwo standard tips

Reservoir capacity200ml

Cheapest price for replacement heads£10.30 at Amazon

Need to know27.5 x 6.5 x 7.5cm (HxWxD), two-pin plug charger that requires an adapter, five pressure settings

Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser 3000

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TypeCordless

AttachmentsOne standard tip, one quad stream tip

Reservoir capacity250ml

Cheapest price for replacement heads £23.49 at Amazon

Need to know29 x 6 x 6cm (HxWxD), two-pin plug charger that requires an adapter, three pressure settings, includes storage pouch for attachments

See our pick of the best electric toothbrushes, including our top cheaper choices for keeping your teeth clean

Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser WP-560UK

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Waterpik Cordless Plus Water Flosser WP-450UK

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TypeCordless

AttachmentsOne classic jet tip, one orthodontic tip, one plaque seeker tip, one tongue cleaner

Reservoir capacity200ml

Cheapest price for replacement heads£7 at Boots

Need to know28 x 6 x 9cm (HxWxD), two pressure settings

Waterpik Ultra Professional Water Flosser WP-660UK

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TypeCorded

AttachmentsTwo classic jet tips, one plaque seeker tip, one orthodontic tip, one pik pocket tip, one toothbrush head

Reservoir capacity600ml

Cheapest price for replacement heads£7 at Boots

Need to know19 x 12.5 x 10cm (HxWxD), two-pin plug charger that requires an adapter, 10 pressure settings

Waterpik Whitening Professional Water Flosser WF-05UK

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TypeCorded

AttachmentsTwo whitening classic jet tips, one whitening plaque seeker tip, one whitening orthodontic tip, 30 whitening tablets

Reservoir capacity600ml

Cheapest price for replacement heads£8.99 at Waterpik

Need to know19 x 12.5 x 10cm (HxWxD), two-pin plug charger that requires an adapter, 10 pressure settings

How we test water flossers

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We choose bestselling water flossers available at UK retailers and enlist a panel of testers to try them out. Each person tests all of the water flossers and we buy all those that we test.

Each water flosser is rated on the following

CleaningOur testers rates each water flosser in turn for how effective each is at removing a teaspoon of seed mix stuck between their teeth. We also test how well each one removes food from a dental demonstration model that replicates adult teeth.
Battery lifeWe fully charge each water flosser and run it on its highest setting until the battery drains. We time how long it takes for the battery to drain.
Ease of useOur panel assess how easy it is to set each one up and move through the settings while in use. All testers also check to see how comfortable each one is to hold and use.
Cleaning timeWe fill up the water reservoir on each flosser and time how long it takes for the tank to drain.
NoiseOur panel rates how noisy each one is.

Do dentists actually recommend water flossers?

We asked Dr Praveen Sharma, a scientific advisor to the British Dental Association and specialist in restorative dentistry if dentists advise using a water flosser for teeth. He says: 'As a dentist, the preference would be for mechanical cleaning in between teeth with interdental brushes, where the anatomy allows.

'Water flossers can be an additional aid, over and above interdental cleaning, and some patients like using these.'

See our advice on how to find the best dentistincluding NHS and private options

Are water flossers better than string floss?

'Water flossers can be used in combination with interdental brushes where the gaps in between the teeth allow,' says Dr Sharma.

'Where the gaps between the teeth don't allow for brushes, other aids, such as floss, can be used.'

Eat well, live better and stay healthy.

How to use a water flosser

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Dr Sharma recommends using a water flosser alongside brushing. He says, 'It’s best done first thing in the morning, ideally before breakfast or 30 minutes after, and last thing at night before going to bed.'

As water flossers dispense a continuous jet of water, you need to keep your mouth partially closed while running the cleaning nozzle along your gum line. This allows the water to drain out but avoids it spraying everywhere.

If you struggle with this technique, which some of our testers did, you could use your cordless water flosser while in the shower if it specifies it's safe to do so. Of those we tested, the Waterpik Cordless Advanced and Nicwell Smart Oral Irrigator specify both are.

How to clean a water flosser

Mineral deposits in water can reduce the effectiveness of your water flosser over time, particularly if you live in a hard-water area.

Try to clean your water flosser regularly to stop these mineral deposits building up.

Waterpik advice says to do this by filling the water reservoir with one to two tablespoons of white vinegar mixed with warm water and running this through the water flosser.

We'd recommend that you check the manual for specific cleaning instructions for your water flosse

Best water flossers and Waterpik flossers - Which? (2024)

FAQs

What brand of water flosser do dentists recommend? ›

Thousands of dental professionals recommend the WATERPIK water flosser to their patients, and they see the difference it makes. The Waterpik water flosser should be the standard of care for in-between clean. The clinical science behind the effectiveness of biofilm removal is unrivaled.

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Which company water flosser is best? ›

After flossing with 12 machines, we found the Waterpik Ion Professional to be the one that will work for most. The Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 7000 offers a quieter clean, if you're willing to pay more. We found the Burst Water Flosser to be a good portable option for people who like to floss on the go.

Read The Full Story ›

Which Waterpik is best for flossing? ›

After weeks of testing 15 different water flossers between 2023 and 2024, we found that the best water flosser overall is the Waterpik Aquarius based on its ease of use, abundance of features and effectiveness.

Know More ›

Is there a difference between a Waterpik and a water flosser? ›

A Waterpik (also known as a dental water jet) is a brand of water flosser or oral irrigator that sprays water to remove food from between your teeth. Water flossers may be a good option for people who have trouble with traditional flossing -- the kind that involves threading string-like material between your teeth.

Get More Info Here ›

Do doctors recommend water flosser? ›

Dentists generally recommend water flossers as an effective way to remove plaque and keep teeth healthy. Water flossers are especially beneficial for those wearing fixed dental appliances like bridges, permanent retainers, and braces.

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Can I use a water flosser every day? ›

Like regular floss, you'll need to use it daily. After you water floss every day for about two weeks in a row, you should see a difference. During your dental exams, you'll probably find that you experience less gum irritation, bleeding, or probing depths (pocketing) around your teeth too.

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Can a water flosser replace flossing? ›

Water flossing will remove more plaque than flossing, making it more effective. The most effective way to clean between teeth and along the gums is whichever method you use regularly and properly. You should add either string flossing, water flossing, or both to brushing as a nightly dental routine.

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Do dentists like waterpiks? ›

Dentists generally approve of water flossers, especially for individuals who find traditional flossing difficult or unpleasant. Water flossers use a high-pressure stream of water to remove food particles and plaque between teeth and below the gum line.

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Which is better string floss or water flosser? ›

While water flossers do a great job of removing food particles and rinsing away plaque by shooting a stream of water between your teeth, they cannot replicate the scraping motion of string floss that removes tartar-causing plaque that can eventually cause gum disease.

Get More Info Here ›

Should you floss before or after Waterpik? ›

Which order is best when it comes to your oral care routine? Most people brush, then floss, then waterpik (if they have one)… but did you know the “best” order is actually: Floss – to dislodge food particles. Waterpik – to flush everything away.

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Can you use both a Waterpik and floss? ›

Instead, most dentists recommend using a Waterpik as a complement to flossing. For example, you could floss once per day and use your Waterpik after you floss to blast away any debris that was loosened while flossing. Or, you could use a Waterpik in the morning and evening, and floss once per day after lunch.

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What is the difference between a power flosser and a water flosser? ›

What is the Difference Between the Two? The main difference between a power flosser and a water flosser is that with the latter, large amount of pulsating water is released as opposed to the water droplets discharged by the power flosser.

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Are water flossers approved by dentists? ›

Talk to Your Dentist

If you simply wish to add a water flosser to your daily routine but don't have questions about it, go ahead and do it! It can't hurt and as long as you utilize the flosser alongside traditional brushing and flossing, you're sure to see excellent results and improved oral health.

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Is the ADA Waterpik better than flossing? ›

Research has shown that there's minimal difference in plaque removal between using floss versus a Waterpik. Both Waterpiks and flossing are good ways to take care of your teeth and gums along with brushing. The ADA recommends brushing twice a day and cleaning in between your teeth once a day.

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Do periodontists recommend Waterpik? ›

Pros of Using a Waterpik

An oral irrigator is efficient for flushing out bacteria from deep pockets that occur when gums separate from the teeth, therefore; it is often recommended for patients with gum disease.

Keep Reading ›

What is the best brand of water for your teeth? ›

Common brands like Dasani and Aquafina are actually acidic enough to be harmful to your teeth. Look for bottled water with a pH level between 7 and 9. Some of the best brands include Essentia, Evian, and Fiji.