Dentists say that brushing our teeth isn’t enough to keep them healthy due to bits of food that get stuck between them and where a toothbrush can’t reach. The normal solution is to floss, but not everyone likes flossing and it can cause sore or bleeding gums.
There is an alternative called water flossing, which involves targeting a small stream of water at your teeth to remove the aforementioned bits of food.
In this article, we are going to review 5 of the best water flosser options, plus we have written a buyer’s guide and answered FAQs to help you choose the right one for you and your family.
Best Water Flosser
Comparison Chart
H2ofloss HF-9 Countertop Dental Water Flosser
ToiletTree Products ‘Poseidon’ Portable Cordless Water Flosser
Belmint Deep Cleaning Water Flosser
iTeknic Cordless Portable Water Flosser
Mospro Rechargeable Portable Water Flosser
Best Water Flosser Reviews
H2ofloss HF-9 Countertop Dental Water Flosser
H2ofloss might seem like a contrived name, but that shouldn’t take anything away from what is one of the bestselling water flosser brands in the market, and with their upgraded HF-9 version, that success is likely to continue.
Product Highlights
The success of H2ofloss was built largely on their hugely popular HF-8 water flosser. That had lots of great features, but one of the most common complaints about it was it was too loud. While a silent water flosser may not be possible, H2ofloss’s redesign and release of this much quieter HF-9 version is bound to be a huge step in the right direction.
The HF-9 water flosser is a countertop design with a number of options that should ensure that everyone in your family has a setup that they prefer. For example, there are 6 different pressure settings for the water stream that range from a gentle floss at 5psi, up to 110 psi for someone who wants to really blast away at any stubborn bits of food.
The HF-9 also comes with no fewer than 12 interchangeable flosser tips which provide the means to water floss in different ways. These tips include four jet tips, two tips to get at hard-to-reach places, two tongue cleaning tips, a tip for nasal irrigation, two tips for those with braces, two tongue cleaning tips, and finally a tip that creates a gentle mist spray of water.
The water tank can hold up to 800 milliliters of water, making it one of the largest available and ensuring that refilling the reservoir doesn’t have to be done so many times that it becomes an annoyance.
For safety, there is an overheat cut-off, and there is a 24-month warranty which should give anyone who is considering the HF-9 water flosser the reassurance that the manufacturer is confident in the reliability of their product.
What I Like
The 12 interchangeable tips that can be used with the HF-9 water flosser turn this product into a complete mouth and dental hygiene tool kit, with options to clean your tongue and even your nasal passages.
What I Don’t Like
The user guide states that every 2 hours it should not be used for than 8 minutes, which means if there are any more than 2 people in your family who want to use it, there is going to have to be a race to the bathroom every morning.
PROS
CONS
ToiletTree Products ‘Poseidon’ Portable Cordless Water Flosser
ToiletTree Products has a solid reputation in the personal hygiene product arena and their ‘Poseidon’ portable water flosser is one which will be especially welcomed by those who like to be able to floss their teeth when traveling.
Product Highlights
Let’s start with what is one of the Poseidon water flosser’s biggest appeals and that is the fact that it is portable. Unlike countertop water flossers which are not really suited to being packed in a toiletry bag, the Poseidon water flosser is small, lightweight and takes up no more space than an electric toothbrush. This means you can take it with you on business trips or vacations to help keep your teeth and mouth clean and fresh while away from home.
The water stream has three settings which are in ascending order, ‘Soft,’ which is 40 psi, and can be used for up to 75 seconds; ‘Normal’ at 60 psi, which will operate for up to 65 seconds; and ‘Pulse’ which is 80 psi, and you can use this for a maximum of 80 seconds. On each of these, the water jet is an ultra-fine 0.6 mm which provides pinpoint accuracy when you are trying to target between the gaps in your teeth.
You’ll hopefully have already realized that being portable, this water flosser runs on rechargeable batteries which, on average, should provide a week’s worth of use, on a single charge. To prevent the flosser being accidentally left running, there is a 2-minute cut-off function which switches the flosser off automatically.
For even more convenience any time you need to replace the flossing tip, rather than struggling to pull it off, all you do is press the release button and it will separate from the unit.
Finally, for those that like to do all their personal cleaning in one go, including their teeth, you can use this flosser in the shower if you wish, thanks to its IPX-7 water-resistant rating.
What I Like
With its size and design, and the fact it uses rechargeable batteries all helping to make this water flosser portable it gives it a huge advantage of larger water flossers which you have to leave at home while you travel.
What I Don’t Like
To protect the charger port there is a tiny rubber plug, but this is not very secure and if some reviews are to be believed, it is almost certainly going to fall out, and no doubt get lost.
PROS
CONS
Belmint Deep Cleaning Water Flosser
Our next water flosser is a countertop version from Belmint which comes with everything you need for oral irrigation and to clean out all the debris from your mouth in order to keep your teeth healthy and guns healthy.
Product Highlights
With this being a countertop water flosser, you’d expect the water tank is somewhat bigger than you’d have with a portable one, and in this case, it is 600 ml, which is around 1.25 pints. This means that the amount of refilling you need to do is minimal. In fact, that should be enough for you to water floss your teeth for about 3 minutes.
One of the keys to how effectively a water flosser can clean your teeth is the pressure with which the water is sprayed into your mouth, and it also helps if it is adjustable, as you do not always need a strong jet. With this Belmint water flosser, the number of settings is ten, which is higher than many water flossers including other countertop ones.
The 10 water pressure settings range from form 0 up to 90 psi, and the water will jet from the flosser tip at around 140 pulses per minute, which equates to about 13 per second. This means that 13 times every second a small jet of water will spray your teeth to clear out food debris that is lodged between your teeth, and in parts of your mouth that your toothbrush wasn’t able to reach.
To time each flossing session correctly and to ensure you cover each section of your mouth, there is a 30-second pacing alert that lets you know it is time to move on to the next quadrant of your mouth. In addition, a 2-minute timer provides a further alert so that it not overused on any single session.
To make this water flosser ideal for families and households with more than one person, especially in relation to hygiene, it comes with three additional interchangeable nozzles that each have a different colored ring so that each person who uses it has their own individual nozzle. There is also a bonus tongue scraper that promotes your oral hygiene to even greater levels.
What I Like
Having colored-coded individual nozzles is an excellent idea and it means that from outset there is no need to purchase additional nozzles if there are others who live with you, and who also want to use this water flosser.
What I Don’t Like
While you have to expect some degree of noise with anything that requires a motor to operate, this one is especially noisy compared to other flossers we’ve tested.
PROS
CONS
iTeknic Cordless Portable Water Flosser
This portable water flosser from iTeknic is not only very popular in terms of how many sales there have been, but it also qualifies as one of the most eye-catching products you are ever likely to have in your bathroom
Product Highlights
We said that this water flosser was eye-catching, and we know that you shouldn’t really buy a product like this just for how it looks. However, its distinctive black body, silver control panel, blue buttons and clear aqua water tank make it a lot more visually appealing than the plain all-white ones that are the norm.
Other features in relation to the water flosser’s design and construction include IPX-7 waterproofing that allows you to use it in the shower, not to mention preventing any leakage from the water tank.
On to the crux of the matter and what it can offer in terms of keeping your mouth and teeth clean, we’ll start by looking at the 360° adjustable nozzles which the iTeknic water flosser uses. It comes with three standard jet nozzle tips and one orthodontic tip which is ideal for those who have braces or other orthodontic appliances. A fifth tip comes in the form of tongue scraper to help your oral hygiene regime be as effective as possible.
This water flosser has three cleaning modes. The first is ‘Soft,’ which is suitable for first-time users and those with sensitive gums and teeth. For normal flossing, you won’t be surprised to know, the setting you use is ‘Normal.’ The third setting is ‘Pulse,’ whose main function is to massage your gums.
In terms of water spray pressure, there is a large range which goes from 30 psi at the lowest, and up to 100 psi at the highest pressure. The pulse rate is between 1,400 and 1,800 pulses per minute.
This water flosser uses a lithium rechargeable battery to power it. Charging is done via the power adapter, although, because the charger lead uses a USB connection, you can charge it via a computer or in-car charger, which along with the fact it is portable, also make it ideal for use if you are traveling.
What I Like
Although it is disappointing that it doesn’t have a low-battery indicator light, that is more than made up for with the excellent battery life This can be as much as 10 days on a single meaning it could last an entire trip if you take it with you.
What I Don’t Like
Whoever decided where the buttons were to be positioned didn’t think it through. The buttons are too close together and occasionally when trying to press one you end up pressing one or more of the others.
PROS
CONS
Mospro Rechargeable Portable Water Flosser
Our final review of water flossers looks at this one from Mospro, and those of you who’d like one which is portable, easy to use, and very importantly, has been highly rated by others who’ve previously bought it, should like it a lot.
Product Highlights
We start with cleaning modes, of which there are three. These are the tried and trusted, ‘Gentle’ for a softer clean, ‘Normal’ for everyday cleaning, and ‘Pulse’ when you need more power to clean away food which is proving difficult to dislodge.
To make the cleaning more effective the nozzle design allows you to rotate it 360° so that you can reach every conceivable part of your mouth. Another excellent feature of this iTeknic water flosser is that you receive four interchangeable nozzles, each with its own color band, so everyone in the household has their own individual water flosser nozzle.
The water tank is easy to fill, and more importantly, because it is removable, it is also very to clean. This means that, unlike with some other portable water flossers whose water tank is fixed, you are more able to remove any debris and limescale which can build up if they are not cleaned properly.
The design, size, and weight of this water flosser obviously mean it is portable and therefore suitable for taking with you and using while you are away from home for any reason. It uses a lithium rechargeable battery which should provide you with between 7 and 10 days on a single charge. It comes with a power adapter although it can also be charged using a USB port or an in-car charger.
Its waterproof rating is IPX-7 which not only means its water tank is of a standard that it should not leak all over your bathroom sink, it also means you can take it into the shower with you to floss in there, instead of at the sink.
What I Like
Having a water tank that is removable may seem like a given, but not all water flossers have one. This means they are harder to clean and limescale builds up. With this water flosser from Mospro the water tank can be removed and thoroughly cleaned.
What I Don’t Like
You’d expect that a product like this which uses a rechargeable battery, would have a ‘low battery’ indicator to let you know it needs charging. Sadly, this one doesn’t so you may find yourself not able to floss one morning as the battery is dead.
PROS
CONS
Buyer’s Guide
While water flossers are relatively simple and easy to use, if you’ve never bought one before, knowing the features to compare between the different products is important. In this short buyer’s guide, we outline some of the fundamental features so that when you come to make your decision you know as many of the basics as possible.
Types of Water Flossers
There are basically three types of water flosser and these are portable, countertop and combination. Portable water flossers are cordless, small, weigh very little and are ideal for traveling. Countertop flossers have much larger bases with the benefit them of having a larger water tank. However, they are not considered portable. A combination water flosser is one which also has an electric toothbrush as part of the product.
Portability
If you want a portable water flosser then you need to purchase one which uses rechargeable batteries, as well as having a design which makes it small enough to be packed into a toiletries bag.
Water Tank/Reservoir Size
This can vary greatly depending on the type of water flosser. The main advantage of larger water reservoirs is that they do not need refilling as often as the smaller ones which is obviously more convenient. Smaller ones tend to hold between 150 ml and 300 ml, while the larger ones can have a capacity as big as 800 ml.
Adjustable Pressure Settings
All water flossers normally have adjustable water pressure which allows you to increase or decrease the power of the water spraying into your mouth. The higher the water pressure the better chance of getting rid of stubborn pieces of food stuck in your teeth. The norm is for three settings but some of the better ones have as many as 10 settings.
Adjustable/Rotatable Nozzle
This is a very simple, but useful feature, that most water flossers have. It allows you to rotate the nozzle up to 360° and direct the water jet more accurately.
Water Flosser FAQ
What is a water flosser?
A water flosser is oral hygiene and teeth cleaning product that directs water spray into your mouth to loosen and remove food which is stuck between your teeth and on your gums.
What’s The difference between a water flosser and oral irrigator?
There isn’t really any difference as oral irrigator is a term used to describe any product which uses a water spray or jet to cleanse the mouth and teeth, which is obviously what a water flosser does. Many experts and brands use the terms water flosser and oral irrigator interchangeably to describe the same products.
How does a water flosser work?
A water flosser uses high-pressure water which is sprayed from a nozzle into the mouth to dislodge food particles and other oral debris which is stuck or not accessible by your toothbrush. Suitable for anyone, it often used by those for whom flossing with normal dental floss is ineffective or painful.
What’s the difference between a water flosser and manual flossing?
Manual flossing is the traditional use of small strands of dental floss which you pull between your teeth to remove food particles. With a water flosser instead of the floss, high-pressure water jets dislodge the food instead, and provide further cleaning of your mouth which normal dental floss can’t do as effectively.
Is water flossing messy?
They do take a bit of getting used to, so in the beginning, you might find yourself splashing a lot of water around your bathroom sink. With experience, you’ll get used to it and make less mess. If you wish to keep your sink area spotless, consider portable water flossers as these can be safely taken into and used in the shower
Conclusion
We hope our reviews, buyer’s guide, and FAQs have given you a great insight into water flossers and you are now more confident about purchasing one. We appreciate that as all the water flossers we’ve reviewed are popular, and top sellers, it is not an easy choice. However, we have selected what we believe is the top water flosser, and it is the iTeknic Cordless Portable Water Flosser.
Being portable gives it a huge advantage over some, in that it is light, and you can take with you into the shower, or easily pack it, if you have to travel or are on location. Its cleaning options are effective, its removable water reservoir make it easy to clean, and the battery life is excellent. Finally, its design is the most eye-catching of them all, which gives it our final seal of approval.
