Best Water Flossers 2024

I always feel like my mouth is sparkling clean after my regular check up, once the dentist has fully descaled and cleaned my teeth. You know the feeling you have in your mouth as soon as you leave the dentists, that just cleaned, completely fresh feeling, it can be achieved at home. A water flosser gives you that just cleaned feeling every day in the comfort of your own home.

The reason for this super clean feeling is, because when just brushing your teeth you can’t achieve what dentists call interdental cleaning,this cleaning is more than just the front and back of teeth. It’s completely cleaning the teeth front, back, sides, between the teeth, and below the gum line. You need a better regime and that’s where water flossing and regular flossing come in.

Water flossers are recommended by dentists to anyone with a brace fitted, as they have trouble removing food debris and plaque from those awkward to get at places around the brace. But we can all benefit from this technology, imagine always having that just cleaned feeling, every day. No more plaque and food waste stuck in the gum line or around those awkward to reach places in the mouth.

Best Selling Water Flossers UK

How Do Water Flossers Work

Water flossers push mouthwash or water into the mouth to remove plaque, food debris and bacteria from the gum line or on the teeth. It could be described as a pressure washer for the mouth, only not as powerful for obvious reasons. The pressurised water in a water flosser gently washes away most of the particles that brushing misses.

Water flossers comprise 2 major parts, a water reservoir, and a pump.Power, either mains electricity or stored power through rechargeable batteries activates the pump which pulls water up from the reservoir and forces it through pipes to the nozzle which passes a stream of higher powered water into the mouth. This water gently washes away debris, plaque and bacteria.

Water Flossing Vs Regular Flossing

Critics would say that water flossing is not as good as regular flossing, but it’s not a fair comparison. You see, they’re designed to do different jobs.So let’s have a closer look at both options to get a clearer idea of what they do and how they work.

Water Flossing

When using a water flosser, the water pressure gently covers the whole mouth area, and washes away the debris and plaque from the gum line. People who wear braces get a great deal of comfort from using a water flosser as they can’t clean their teeth properly due to the wires.

Regular Flossing

Regular flossing gets right between the teeth and can remove more plaque and debris that is stuck to the teeth. But this cleaning comes at a cost, bleeding gums, and general discomfort including, some people who have less dexterity due to age or illness not being able to use floss at all.

What Are The Benefits Of A Water Flosser

There are many benefits to be found in using a water flosser, and these include, 

Easy To Use

Water flossers are easy to use, and less fiddly than regular flossing,no sticking fingers in your mouth to move small pieces of floss string. This allows people with dexterity issues like arthritics etc to be able to floss their teeth with no pain or discomfort.

Powerful Cleaning Action

The powerful water jet can remove food, plaque and bacteria from below the gumline and also from minute places that string flossing can’t reach.

Comfortable Mouth

If you have sensitive teeth and/or gums, water flossers will be a much more comfortable experience for you. No bleeding gums, and no pain, plus water flossers have adjustable water pressures and directional nozzles for a gentler, pleasant teeth cleaning experience.

Saves Time

Once you get the hang of using a water flosser you will find it is much quicker than traditional flossing.

Less Mess

When using traditional floss for cleaning between your teeth, you are left with dirty strands of plaque and food encrusted bacteria laden waste to dispose of. Not so with a water flosser, all the debris goes down the plug hole.

One Tool For The Job

With traditional flossing, it is necessary to have dental floss plus those interdental brushes, that’s 2 tools. Water flossers replace both of those, and nothing to dispose of after use.

Better For Brace Wearers

Braces prevent the use of dental floss because of the wires obstructing access. Water flossing works differently, water has access to places unreachable by brushing alone. Making your mouth cleaner, healthier and leaves you with the confidence to smile.

Interchangeable Heads

This is a particularly useful feature as it allows the whole family to have their own personal water flosser whilst only owning one unit.

What Are The Disadvantages Of A Water Flosser

There are a few objections to using a water flosser and in the interest of balance let’s look at them, they include, the price. It’s considerably more expensive to buy a water flosser than it is to buy a packet of dental floss. However, over the lifetime of a water flosser this balances out when you think how fast you can get through dental floss. 

Water flossers are powered by electricity, even the cordless water flossers rely on electricity. Some would argue that the environmental impact of using another electrical device is unnecessary. But surely the environmental impact of landfill is as bad if not worse, and that’s where used dental floss goes.

I have heard it said that using a water flosser is messy, and water spills down your front etc. This might be the case during your first or second time of using a water flosser but it doesn’t take long to master the technique. And soon you’ll be flossing with water and no mess at all.

Some argue that water flossing is not as effective as using dental floss in clearing plaque, but there are others who say that water flossers are better so the choice is yours.

Water Flosser Buyers Guide

Different makes and models of water flossers offer different designs, features and tools. These all need to be considered before purchasing, so that when you buy your water flosser you will have the right tool for your needs.The following are the main points to consider before making a final choice.

Water Reservoir

The amount of water/mouthwash your water flosser can hold will mean the difference of easy usage compared to not bothering because it needs filling again. Countertop water flossers hold around 1,000 mls which is roughly enough for 7 sessions, whereas portable/cordless water flossers hold around 210 mls which will do roughly one and a half sessions.

The amount of flossing time depends on reservoir size and pressure but as a general guide,

150 mls will give you around 30 seconds of flossing time

210 mls gives around 45 seconds

450 mls gives around 60 seconds

650 gives around 90 seconds.

Portable Or Countertop

If you travel a lot, or you don’t have a power outlet in your bathroom, or even if you have a small bathroom, a portable water flosser might be the best choice for you. 

However, if you do have space a countertop model is generally the better option, they have larger reservoirs and often come with added features that can be really useful.

Adjustable Pressure

Countertop water flossers have a better range of adjustable power, which is much more precisely controlled than portable flossers. On portable models the settings tend to be just low, medium, or high. Whereas on countertop models you can set actual pressure settings measured in BARS, which is the universal pressure measurement gauge.

Interchangeable Tips

Some models, often at the pricier end of the market offer a range of interchangeable tips, suitable for different cleaning tasks. Like the jet tip, this is the general every day usage tip and is the standard tip for most models. Some offer tips for cleaning the tongue, specific tips for just plaque, tips designed to be used with braces, and some have a toothbrush tip, that allows you to brush your teeth as you floss.

Adjustable Nozzle

Most water flossers come with a fixed nozzle, but some models allow you to adjust the nozzle head to get a better aim at some of the hard to reach areas of your mouth.Some can even rotate a full 360 degrees for ease of use and extra reach.

Timer

Some models have a timer that allows you to flush for a set amount of time without having to rely on an alarm or clock. The water flow is interrupted in 30 second intervals so you know exactly how long you’ve been flossing.

Recharge Time

If you decide to go for the portable/cordless models you need to consider how long they last between charges and how long does a full recharge take.

Noise

If you get up earlier than anyone else in the house, it’s worth considering the noise of a water flosser. The pump is as loud as the average electric toothbrush. Countertop models are generally louder than portable/cordless models.

Replacement Nozzles

The tip on a water flosser should be replaced every 3 months or so, most brands sell spares at a reasonable price.

Colour

There are some makes that offer a choice of colours for water flossers and although this is mainly superficial, it is worth consideration if you are into colour co-ordination.

Safety

Countertop models have a cable connected to the electricity supply, these will be insulated but be aware of excessive moisture. Cordless/rechargeable models are safer as there is no electrical current to worry about.

Brand

It is always best to buy your water flosser from a reputable retailer, and always buy from a well known brand. Tried and tested companies not only tend to make better appliances, but also have reliable customer service departments too.

Warranty

Any warranty is only as good as the company that supplies it, and that’s why reputable, well known brands are always the best choice. If, in the unlikely event of your water flosser developing a fault, and you have to contact the manufacturing company you have a much greater chance of a successful outcome if that is a household brand.

Most water flossers come with a 2 year warranty, that usually cover many faults (but not accidental damage). Remember to keep your original receipt as proof of purchase and if stated in the user manual, register your appliance as soon as you receive it. Many water flossers last much longer than they are guaranteed to, because they are a simple design and there’s not really much to go wrong with them.

Do Dentists Recommend Water Flossers

In the same way that an electric toothbrush is a more convenient and easier way to brush your teeth, water flossers are considered easier to use and more effective than using dental floss and interdental brushes. They are particularly recommended for people having any orthodontic work done, where traditional flossing is difficult or painful.

Many dentists agree that gum disease causes pathogenic bacteria to increase in hidden crevices within the mouth. This leads to an increase in fluid in the crevice which contains many factors that help bacteria to grow. Using a water flosser can help to eliminate much of this bacteria, and as a result help to heal gum disease and clear up the bleeding often associated with gum disease.

There is also data that supports that water flossers and dental floss were equal in their plaque removal, but that water flossers add an extra dimension to oral hygiene as bacteria is much more than just the buildup of plaque.

Most dentists recommend a cleaning regime of brushing the teeth, followed by manual flossing with dental floss and interdental brushes, followed by water flossing. In reality, who has the time for all that? So to save time and to make sure you floss many dentists agree that water flossing is best.

 How Much Is A Water Flosser

This is very much dependent on type, brand, model and features.But prices start at around £8 for a battery operated portable water flosser with no extra attachments, a small water reservoir and basic functions. At the top end of the scale, water flossers go up to around £585 for a top of the range model complete with 7 flosser tips, Intelligent pressure control, stepless speed change for gentle to maximum cleaning, and a 360 degree nozzle.

Frequently Asked Questions