Best Water Flosser 2018 – Buyer’s Guide and Review

After over 35 hours of research, interviews and product testing, the H20Floss Oral Irrigator emerged as our top pick among the 30 other water flossers we reviewed. We were impressed with the product’s quietness when operating, an important consideration among many buyers. You’ll also get to enjoy and share it with the rest of your family since this water flosser comes with 12 tips that can also be stored in a tip holder that can hold up to 7 tips. By and large, this product strikes a great balance of affordability and functionality. [read more]

A water flosser, also called as an oral irrigator or a water pick, is a device that shoots pressurized water on the sides and the in-betweens of your teeth and your gumline.

While not exactly recommended as a direct substitute to a toothbrush, water flossers are still considered as an indispensable tool in maintaining the best care for your teeth and gums.

This device is designed to remove plaques and other materials in areas that are normally not accessible by your toothbrush. Also, if you are wearing braces of if you are suffering from ailments such as a gum disease, a water flosser can be extremely useful for you.

In this article, we have created a comprehensive buyer’s guide that will inform you on the things you need to consider before buying a water flosser.

We also reviewed some of best water flossers in the market today and after careful considerations we formed our recommendations.

​"What To Consider Before Buying a Water Flosser?"

There a few things you need to consider in choosing a water flosser. We have outlined and explained the most important ones below.

1. Type

You need to decide on the type of water flosser you want to buy based on your needs. There are basically three types of water flossers you can choose from.

• ​Countertop Water Flossers -  They’re the bulkiest among the three types of water flosser. They’re placed in a countertop space and they use electricity to function. You’ll also need to constantly refill its tank every time it runs out of water. The good thing about countertop water flossers though, is that they usually have plenty of pressure settings and flosser tips to offer, which makes them a suitable choice if you have sensitive gums/teeth since you can easily control and customize the amount of pressure exerted by the water flosser.
• Cordless Water Flossers -  As its name suggests, this type of water flosser is cordless and it is usually powered by an AA battery. This type of water flosser is best suited for travellers since they’re portable. You also won’t have to worry about voltage compatibilities if you travel abroad since it’s battery-powered. However, cordless water flossers usually have lesser pressure setting options, tank capacity and additional tips compared to counter water flossers.
• Faucet/Shower Water Flossers – if you’re too impatient to refill tanks, this type is apt for you. This type of water flosser is directly connected to a faucet or a shower system. However, in the case of some faucet water flossers, you may need a dedicated faucet intended exclusively for the device. Otherwise, you’ll have to repeatedly remove and install the device to your faucet.

2. Tips

 The health benefits of using a water flosser is undeniably indispensable. Moreover, it makes sense to have a water flosser that can also be used by your entire family. This is where the number of tips that come with the device matters. If you plan to share the device with the rest of your family, pick a water flosser that has multiple tips.

3.​ Pressure Settings

 If you have special needs (i.e extremely sensitive gums, braces or specific ailments), you may have to secure a water flosser that offers multiple pressure setting options. Established brands, such as Waterpik, usually offer up to 10 pressure settings.

4. ​Noise

Some water flossers can generate some noise when operating. Check whether or not the water flosser you’re planning to buy is quiet enough not to disturb the people around you if you happen to use it in the middle of the night.

How We Assessed and Evaluated These Water Flossers

We listed all the available products we have spotted from various review sites and online retail stores. We wanted a comprehensive list of available water flossers in the market so we also asked for recommendation from our peers who are using water flossers. After thoroughly searching for the names of the available units, we were list 30 water flossers that still sold in the market these days.

Since our goal is to review and to recommend the best water flossers, we designed quality criteria / metrics as to how we would evaluate the products. To do this, we read through existing consumer opinions found on various online stores for us to derive ideas as to what consumers look for in buying a water flosser. We also looked into credible review sites such as consumerreports.org and thewirecutter.com to further gain insights on what to look for in scrutizing a water flosser.

From what we've found, recurring qualities that buyers look for in a water flosser are the following: quietness in operating, ease in refilling, tank capacity (in terms of time), number of tips, customizability of water pressure and price.

After establishing the criteria, we then created a quantitative scoring system that assigns a specific number of points to each of the 30 products based on how they performed on the given set of standards listed above. The top five products that attained the highest aggregate scores will be featured in our review.

Upon coming up with our shortlist of the five best water flossers we reviewed, we also personally hand-tested some of the five products. We also spoke to users who have previously used the products to gain additional insights on the quality and flaw (if any) of the products.

We were in no way funded or supported by any particular brand or distributor throughout the process. Hence, we believe that what we deliver is objective and unbiased commentaries on the best products in the market today.

Our Top Picks

Kicking off our list is the Waterpik WP-100 Ultra. It’s one of the most popular water flosser produced by Waterpik and we think it’s primarily because of the impressive features it offers.

We also found out that this product happens to be one of the most affordable product in Waterpik’s line-up of water flossers.

If you plan to use this device with the rest of your family, this product is a great choice since it comes with six tips.

You also have 10 pressure settings to choose from, which means it is great even for those with extra-sensitive gums.

Capacity wise, you can fill in up to 650 ml. of water, enough to power 90 seconds of usage. We also loved how easy it is to remove the reservoir (water container) from the flosser so you can simply put in in a sink to fill it up.

The reservoir also has a cover where you can also store your tips. We find the design of the tip storage quite clever since the tips are stored in opposite directions so the edge of the tips don’t touch each other.

With the WP-100, you’ll find it easier to clean surfaces that are hard to reach because its tips can be rotated 360 degrees. Compared to other water flossers, we also find this product to be quitter and more compact.

Lastly, you can plug this device safely to any 120VAC/60Hz outlet. The product has a 50-meter chord so you’ll be able to plug it in nicely to the nearest oulet in your bathroom.

Next up on our list is the Panasonic Oral Irrigator EW-DJ10A. If you constantly travel, this may be a suitable product for your wanderlust lifestyle.

You’ll find this product very portable since it weighs only 7.4 oz. It doesn’t consume much space and it is cordless. We find the design clever since this water flosser is collapsible. The reservoir works as a carry case when not in use so it is half as big when not in use. It is one of the smallest water flossers we’ve seen so far.

However, we found out that its portability does come with a price. You’ll only get to choose between two options of pressure settings – low and high. This product is only battery-powered so this isn’t something we should be surprised about. Speaking of batteries, you can use this device up to 35 times of usage so we suggest you to secure rechargeable AA batteries. You’ll also only get a single tip with this product so you’ll have to buy extra tips if you plan on sharing it with other people.

Capacity wise, you can fill the reservoir with only 5.5 oz of water. This quantity will allow you to floss up to 40 seconds so if you’re slow at flossing, you might need a second refill. The good news is refilling the reservoir is hassle-free.

One last trait we love about it is that it is waterproof. You can wash it and clean it without worrying about ruining it.

Next up on our list is one of Waterpik’s most good-looking units to date, the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser (WP-660).

You’ll be likely proud to display this water flosser in the countertop of your bathroom.

There’s also a lot more to commend about the WP-660. For starters, you’ll get to choose from the 10 pressure settings it offers.

You can also share it with the rest of your family since you’ll be having 7 tips with the water flosser.

Plus, unlike other units, this product allows you to choose from to water flossing modes: floss and massage.

We also find the on/off control in the handle extra handy so you’ll find this water flosser convenient to use.

You’ll also get to save some extra countertop space since this water flosser is smaller than other models.

However, this also means that you get to fill it with lesser water (22 ounces), and therefore lesser water flossing time (90 seconds).

If you remove the reservoir, you’ll notice that there is a flosser tip holder on the side of the water flosser. You can place at most two flosser tips on it.

We found out a minor glitch though on the holder because flosser tips with bristles cannot exactly fit in it. If you force the bristled water flosser against the holder, you may run the risk of comprising the bristled tip’s functionality.

In this case, we find Ultra’s flosser holder more appealing given that it is more spacious and accommodating to bristled tips.

The fourth item we reviewed in this list is a low-end yet reliable water flosser. The H20floss Water Dental Flosser Quiet Design. As usual, we’ll look into some of this product’s best features.

What we love the most about this product is the 12 multifunctional tips you can use and share with your entire family. The tips come in different colors and types. You can freely choose from any of the jet tips, periodontal, tongue cleaning and orthodontic tips it has. We were quite impressed that it even has nasal tip for cleaning your nose.

You can also enjoy at most 3 minutes of uninterrupted water flossing because this product’s tank can hold a maximum of 800 ml. of water. There are 5 pressure settings you can choose from. If you are wearing a brace or if you have any special conditions, this product will just fine in keeping your mouth extra clean.

This water flosser comes with a flosser tip holder that can hold at most 7 tips. If you’ll notice, this is slightly superior to the tip holder of Waterpik’s Aquarius and Ultra which can hold 2 and 4 tips, respectively. You’ll definitely need a sanitary place to keep your tips and this product has it. Furthermore, this added feature makes the H20Floss Dental Flosser a product taylor-fitted for family use.

Lastly, if you won’t have to worry about disturbing others if you’re using it in the middle of the night since this water flosser makes lesser noise than most other models.

The last item on our list is the Smagreho Dental SPA Water Jet Oral Irrigator, one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) water flosser in the market today. If you are on a very tight budget but still wants to provide maximum care for your oral health, this product may be a good match for you.

This water flosser is a mechanical device which means you won’t need electricity to use it. You’ll find this product very easy to install because you’ll only have to connect the water separator and the nozzle to any faucet nearby your sink. However, this also means that you will need a dedicated faucet for this device if you don’t want to repeat the process of installation.

You can also share the device with your family because this product comes with three spout heads and three brush heads. We also found that it does have a modicum amount of pressure to thoroughly clean the sides and the in-betweens of your mouth and gums. The nozzle allows up to 2,100 pulses of water every minute to flow directly into the water flosser’s spouts or tips. But, since the product operates mechanically, you may struggle finding the right amount of pressure you need since it does not have direct pressure setting controls present in more expensive models.

Since this water flosser is powered by the faucet, you’ll be able enjoy unlimited water flossing time without the need to refill any tank. Plus, you also get to save some electricity.

Our Recommendations:

Editor's Pick: H2ofloss Water Dental Flosser Quiet Design

Out of 30 products, the H20floss Water Dental Flosser stood out to be our best pick. This product passed our checklist of what makes a good water flosser, with flying colors. For starters, it’s decently quiet when used. It also offers 12 multi-functional tips, a far more generous offer compared to Waterpik Aquarius’ 7 tips. The tank capacity also lasts longer, allowing about 3 minutes of flossing time which again exceeds the typical 90-second capacity of most Waterpik water flossers. In addition, you can place at most 7 tips in this product’s tip holder, a number which exceeds what the tip holders of other brands can hold.

Runners Up: Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser, WP-660 & SMAGREHO Dental SPA Water Jet Oral Irrigator

Coming in second place is the Waterpik Aquarius (WP-660). As expected, we find this Waterpik water flosser quite competitive in terms of tank capacity, quietness and among other considerations that matter to consumers. You’ll get to choose from the 10 pressure settings it offers as well as enjoy water flossing for 90 seconds, which is just enough to let you clean your mouth thoroughly. Also, we also find its removable tank convenient since it makes it a lot easier to refill. Overall, we think this product makes a strong case for consumers who are serious about taking care of their oral health.

The Smagreho Dental Oral Irrigator is our best recommendation for those who are in a very tight budget. Taking care of your oral health doesn’t have to be expensive. You’ll get to enjoy unlimited flossing time without the burden of having to refill a tank. We love how easy it is to install the product to a faucet. You won’t have to worry if this product has enough pressure since it comes with various sizes of nozzles to pressurize the tips up to 2,100 pulses per minute. The product also comes with three spouts and three brush heads, so you definitely can share with the rest of your family.