Staying on top of your oral hygiene isn’t only important for preventing cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. It has an impact on your entire body—even heart health. But keeping your mouth pristine requires more than just brushing your teeth twice a day. The American Dental Association (ADA) also recommends flossing at least once a day (yep, every day) to remove food particles and plaque.
How you do it is up to you—so if wiggling a string isn’t your thing, consider switching to the best water flossers. These machines send a stream of water through a narrow nozzle directly to your teeth and gums to clean them. They’re “gentle on sensitive gums, easy to use, and especially helpful for people with braces or fixed retainers, implants, crowns, or limited dexterity [who might find traditional floss difficult to use],” Inna Chern, DDS, FAGD, a cosmetic dentist based in New York City, tells SELF. “As a bonus, they also clean the surface of teeth, making them a great pre-brush step for stain removal.”
Below, we’re breaking down how to choose the right water flosser (a.k.a. one that’s effective and actually makes flossing easier).
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Waterpik Aquarius WP-660, $100
- Best Cordless: Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000 Cordless, $79
- Best Portable: Waterpik Cordless Pulse, $50
- Best for Braces: Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000,
$90$72 - Best Budget Pick: Bitvae Portable 300ML Electric,
$29$25 - Best Design: Quip Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser, $50
In this article
Shop the best water flossers
Ready for the pearly whites of your dreams? Read on.
Best Overall: Waterpik Aquarius WP-660
The Waterpik Aquarius has 10 pressure settings to suit various sensitivities. It also comes with four classic tips, so you can share it with partners or family members while keeping things sanitary, and three other tips for more specialized use. (Think: An orthodontic tip that’s designed for cleaning around brackets and wires in braces, one for periodontal pockets that can result from periodontitis, and one with soft bristles that are designed to target plaque.) Other compatible tips are available to purchase, including a tongue scraper and a toothbrush.
Even more features that make the Aquarius a top pick for Anjali Rajpal, DMD, founder of Beverly Hills Dentistry Arts in Los Angeles? “It has a massage mode to stimulate gums and a large water tank, which allows for 90-plus seconds of flossing time,” she says. This water flosser has also been accepted by the ADA, meaning it was tested and deemed safe and effective for removing plaque and reducing gingivitis (bye-bye, bad breath).
Dimensions: 10.35 x 4.7 x 3.8 inches | Pressure settings: 10 | Water tank size: 22 oz
Best Cordless: Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000 Cordless
Philips
Sonicare 3000 Cordless Power Flosser
In addition to taking up less counter space than wired alternatives, cordless water flossers can also be easier to use. Our favorite is this model from Sonicare, which comes highly recommended by Lena Varone, DMD, a cosmetic dentist based in New York City. Pro tip: Bring it with you into the shower to minimize the mess you make, she says, especially if you’re a beginner who’s just getting the hang of using a water flosser.
Dr. Rajpal calls out two of this flosser’s key features: the specialized Quad Stream tip, which is X-shaped and separates the flow of water into four jets (allowing for a wider spray and better coverage), and the Pulse Wave technology that guides you from tooth to tooth for the right amount of time. She also likes its “sleek, modern design” that’ll look great in your bathroom.
Dimensions: 3.62 x 5.28 x 9.72 inches | Pressure settings: 3 | Water tank size: 8.5 oz
Best Portable: Waterpik Cordless Pulse
“I’m a big advocate of cordless and travel-size water flossers, since they’re easy to pack and to take on the go,” says Dr. Chern. One of her favorites? The Waterpik Cordless Pulse. It’s lightweight, more compact, and less expensive than many other flossers on our list (that’s a win-win-win).
Another reason why we like it so much for travel is that the battery lasts up to four weeks on a single charge, so you can leave the cord (and adapter) at home and trust you’ll still be able to use it. Toss it in your carry-on or suitcase and get on your way, knowing you’re covered.
Dimensions: 11.75 x 2.5 x 3.75 inches | Pressure settings: 2 | Water tank size: 6 oz
Best for Braces: Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000
Philips
Sonicare 3000 Power Flosser
The countertop version of our favorite cordless water flosser, this model is Dr. Chern’s pick for anyone with braces. It has two flossing modes and 10 water pressure settings, to help hit those hard-to-reach spots between brackets and wires. And because the water tank is on the larger side, your flossing sessions can last longer without needing to stop for a refill.
Like the cordless model, this Power Flosser features Philips Sonicare’s Pulse Wave technology that guides you from tooth to tooth and the Quad Stream tip that creates four streams of water to cover more surface area. It also comes with an extra standard nozzle, so you can share the device with someone else (or have it handy when it’s time to switch yours out).
Dimensions: 5.32 x 5.91 x 9.25 inches | Pressure settings: 10 | Water tank size: 18.6 oz
Best Budget Pick: Bitvae Portable 300ML Electric
Bitvae
Portable 300ML Electric
Dr. Chern called out this water flosser from Bitvae as her favorite portable, travel-friendly option—its often under-$30 price tag is just a bonus. Compact, with a long battery life (up to 40 days!) and an impressive water tank capacity, it’s just as well-designed as some of our other picks from bigger brands.
This water flosser has five pressure settings and six tips. Just don’t lose the cord—some customers say that when they’ve misplaced it, they haven’t been able to charge or use the flosser at all.
Dimensions: 2.6 x 3.7 x 8.8 inches | Pressure settings: 5 | Water tank size: 8.8 oz
Best Design: Quip Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser
Quip
Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser
Quip’s sleek water flosser looks good on your vanity or countertop and really works, according to SELF’s market editor, Angela Trakoshis. “I didn’t think I’d ever be that person who swears by a water flosser, but here we are,” she says. “This legit changed the game for my teeth. It’s like a power wash for your mouth—super quick, somehow satisfying, and way more effective (and fun) than regular floss.”
That’s thanks to the flosser’s two pressure modes (gentle and deep clean), two water flow settings (manual and continuous), and large reservoir with a wide mouth (for easy filling). When it’s time to switch tips, simply pull the old one off and snap the new one in—they’re all magnetic. “I used it once, and suddenly I’m judging past me for ever thinking string floss was enough,” Trakoshis says.
What to look for when choosing a water flosser
Corded water flossers (a.k.a. countertop flossers) often have larger tanks than their cordless cousins. While you’ll have to fill a larger tank less often and can enjoy longer flossing sessions, it’ll also take up more room in your bathroom and be less portable.
In addition to a flosser’s tank capacity, you’ll also want to consider the size and placement of the tank opening—how easy is it to refill?
Corded flossers need to be plugged in at all times, while cordless options can be recharged using a cord or separate base. Our cordless picks can last from 14 to 80 days on a single charge. Consider whether you have an easily accessible outlet in your bathroom—can you leave a flosser plugged in 24/7 or are you looking for something you can keep in a drawer?
Many water flossers come with additional tips or nozzles, which may be shaped differently to clean braces, to target plaque around veneers or implants, to clean your tongue, and more. Some flossers come with multiple standard tips so that more than one person in a household can use them. Others come with just a few, but sell replacements or specially designed tips separately.
Just know that no matter how many attachments your device may come with (or is compatible with), they’re not supposed to last forever. As a general guideline, Dr. Rajpal says “the tips should be replaced every three to six months.” To know how to best maintain your water flosser and how often to replace its attachments, follow the directions laid out in the machine’s user manual.
How we picked the flossers on this list
To find the water flossers that reign supreme, we sat down with dentists and asked them which machines they use and recommend to their patients. We also studied up on ADA guidelines to find flossers that have earned the organization’s stamp of approval. Next, we tapped SELF staffers to find the flossers that live in their bathrooms. Then, to round out our list, we read dozens of customer reviews, noting which machines shoppers enjoy using every day.
The result? A curated list of the best flossers that actually work (and some advice from the pros on how to get the most out of them).
Frequently asked questions
How do you use a water flosser?
Glad you asked! It’s pretty easy—just follow these four steps from Dr. Chern.
- Fill the reservoir with warm water (the temperature is extra important if you have sensitive teeth).
- Attach a tip to your water flosser and set the machine to low or moderate pressure.
- Place the tip of the water flosser at a 90-degree angle to your gumline while you’re leaning over the sink or in the shower (which will minimize the mess).
- Slowly trace water along your gumline, pausing between teeth, until your entire mouth is cleaned.
Pro tip: Dr. Rajpal suggests waiting to turn on your device until the tip is in your mouth to help avoid or minimize splashing.
Is using a water flosser better than using regular floss?
It’s complicated—both are recommended by the ADA. But according to Dr. Varone, more is more: “A water flosser doesn’t replace flossing, but it’s an amazing adjunct that I believe enhances flossing when used together,” she says. “I like to think of water flossers as pre-rinsing your dishes before you scrub them with a sponge. The floss has physical contact that prevents a cavity from forming in that touch point between each tooth. With a water flosser, this touch point is missing.“
That said, Dr. Rajpal points out that while string floss may be better able to physically scrape off plaque, water flossing is sometimes more convenient. “Water flossers can access tight or awkward spaces around orthodontic appliances, fixed bridges, and implants, where string floss often struggles,” she says. “[Water flossers] also reduce the risk of damage or dislodging hardware during cleaning.” Also, some research has shown that water flossing may be able to get the job done with less bleeding and inflammation compared to string floss.
Ultimately, Dr. Varone adds, “for those with manual dexterity complications—or someone who simply doesn’t floss at all—a water flosser may be a good step to improving oral hygiene.”
Can you use a water flosser to remove tonsil stones?
If you have tonsil stones—small, hard lumps that can form on the tonsils and cause bad breath—it may be tempting to use your water flosser to try to dislodge them. But Dr. Varone doesn’t recommend it: “There are many stories of people hurting themselves trying to do this,” she says. To play it safe, visit your dentist or an ENT who can help you determine next steps.
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