Waterpik is the leading brand for countertop and cordless water flossers. This article aims to compare Waterpik’s different models and look at a few competing brands to see how they match up. If you don’t need convincing that water flossers are a great way to improve your dental health, then click here to skip down to the product guide.
Water Flossers and Your Dental Health
Water flossers are not a complete replacement for string floss. For best results, you should use a water flosser to supplement your regular flossing routine.
Dental health impact of water flossers:
- Reduce gingivitis, remove plaque, and improve gum health
- Gum disease treatment and prevention
- Reduce gingival bleeding
If you never floss and go to the dentist for regular cleaning, then you’re aware that your gums will bleed easily with even a little poking or prodding. On those rare occasions, you happen to floss or use a toothpick to clean between teeth, you may notice some light bleeding if you poke your gums. This is actually a sign of periodontal disease and is extremely common. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, around 80% of the adult population has some degree of periodontal disease.
Of course, one of the ways to prevent and treat this is by doing that thing you keep refusing to do: floss.
If you made it this far then you’re at least considering changing your ways. Water flossers are much easier to use than string floss and can be a great start to getting in a routine of flossing every day.
Never flossing means your teeth will have plaque buildup that makes it difficult to get string floss all the way to the gum line. Additionally, your teeth will not be accustomed to having string fit between them and will be tight. This is why you might notice you get a headache or a toothache after flossing. Your teeth are having to move to accommodate the floss. This completely goes away if you floss regularly.
Should you completely stop using string floss if you use a water flosser?
Ideally, no. Once you get into the routine of using your water flosser, you might find you’re more willing to pick up the string floss. The hard part is keeping up the routine, but it gets much easier once you start.
As we mentioned before if you never floss then your teeth aren’t accustomed to having something between them – other than all that plaque. This also makes it difficult for water to penetrate deep between your teeth. Even occasionally using string floss can help things along by making room for the water to do its work.
Advantages of Water Flossers
- Easy cleaning around braces, other orthodontics, cleaning bridges, crowns, and dental implants.
- Don’t require you to put your hands in your mouth.
- Point and shoot. No struggling to fit string between your teeth.
- Require low dexterity (string floss can be difficult to use properly)
People that have had braces know just how much of a pain it is to keep them clean. Just like taking a hose pipe to your garage, a water flosser will effortlessly knock food and plaque away from your braces and teeth. It’s so discouraging to try and floss with braces that many people don’t do it, or do the bare minimum. Water flossers avoid this.
Dexterity issues, such as arthritis, can make proper flossing difficult. Point and shoot; that’s all you have to do with a water flosser.
About Waterpik Water Flossers
Waterpik isn’t the only game in town, but they are the leaders when it comes to water flossing. As with many product categories, you’ll notice there are a ton of cheap Chinese knock-offs if you browse Amazon. We generally try to avoid these products as the majority of them don’t provide any support or reliable customer service.
What should I buy?
There are an overwhelming amount of products available from Waterpik, Oral-B, and Philips for taking better care of your teeth. Maybe you currently only use a manual toothbrush and occasionally use string floss, or you’ve already made the jump and bought an electric toothbrush and are looking to up your flossing game. Waterpik has this in mind and offers a variety of products that can fit into your current routine, or completely replace it.
Which one of these are you?
You only have a manual toothbrush and occasionally (or never) use string floss.
Then you should consider one of the Waterpik Complete Care systems. They come with an electric toothbrush and water flosser to completely replace your current brush and floss routine. The electric toothbrushes from Waterpik can go toe to toe with the popular Oral-B Pro or Philips Sonicare Series.
You have an electric toothbrush, but want to get rid of the string floss.
Check out the water flosser models such as the Waterpik WP-660 Aquarius or Waterpik WP-450 Cordless Plus. These models are just the water flosser itself without the electric toothbrush. Our opinion is that you should always get a countertop water flosser instead of cordless unless there is a really good reason. If you have very little counter space, you can get the Waterpik WP-300 Traveler, which has a small footprint since the reservoir can be flipped over and rest on the flosser body.
You’re looking to upgrade your current water flosser.
The Waterpik WP-660 Aquarius not only looks nice but has all the latest features. It comes with a nice 3-year warranty, 7 flosser tips, 10 pressure settings, timer/pacer functions, and the ability to customize water pulsation.
Waterpik Water Flossers
These water flossers are powerful and have a large reservoir capacity. You get a wide range of water pressure settings that are friendly for people with sensitive gums, or those looking for a strong jet for those tough cleaning areas.
- Top Choice: Waterpik WP-660 Aquarius
- Budget Choice: H2Ofloss HF-8 Whisper (not a Waterpik)
- Small Footprint:Waterpik WF-04 Sidekick
Waterpik Water Flossers & Electric Toothbrush Combos
If you’re looking for a complete replacement for your current brushing and flossing routine, then these Complete Care systems are a great choice. The water flossing systems are just as powerful as the flosser-only models to the left. The electric toothbrushes have great features like the pacer and timer, and most Waterpik brushes are the sonic style.
- Top Choice: Waterpik Complete Care 9.5 (CC-02)
- Budget Choice: Waterpik Complete Care (WP-900)
Waterpik Cordless Water Flossers
Cordless water flossers are much more compact and best for a frequent traveler. They are capable of holding much less water than a countertop model, with about 23% to 30% of the reservoir capacity. The maximum pressure they produce is about 70% of that of a countertop model. Carrying around a full-size countertop water flosser isn’t always an option, so these are a great stand-in if you have limited space.
- Top Choice: Waterpik WP-560 Cordless Advanced
- Budget Choice: Waterpik WF-03 Cordless Freedom
Waterpik Product Guide
It’s important to be sure you’re buying a water flosser that is compatible with the voltage standards in your country. If you’re in North America, the models we linked to here will work just fine, but if you travel to Europe, for example, the only models that can be used with 240VAC are the WP-300 Traveler and WP-260 For Kids. If you’re outside the USA, just double check that you’re buying the model with the correct voltage compatibility. Plugging a Waterpik that’s only compatible in North America into a 240 VAC socket will void your warranty and Waterpik won’t help you.
Features we care about:
- Number of Pressure Settings
- Timer/Pacer Functions
- Reservior Capcity
- Lid for the reservior
- Rotating Tip
- Warranty
Most of the Waterpik’s flossers stay in the same pressure range, from 10 to 100 PSI. However, the number of settings between the maximum and minimum pressure varies. The cordless models have fewer settings than the countertop models overall.
With the countertop water flossers, generally, the higher priced models have more granular control of the pressure. Having more settings means you’ll be able to find the pressure that feels right for you. This is especially important when you first start using a water flosser, as your gums aren’t accustomed to much action.
It’s disappointing that even Waterpik’s top tier flossers don’t have pressure controls on the handle. However, the H2Ofloss water flosser does, and it’s a great alternative to the budget Waterpik models.
Perhaps the most essential part of your dental cleaning routine is brushing and flossing for as long as you should. It’s recommended that you brush with an electric toothbrush for 2 minutes, spending 30 seconds in each of the four quadrants of your mouth. For water flossing, Waterpik recommends flossing for 1 minute, which means spending 30 seconds on your top and bottom teeth.
How do the Waterpik timer and pacer function work?
At the 30-second mark, the timer will briefly pause the water flow, and then at 1 minute it completely stops. Easy as that.
The timer function works when the flosser is in “Floss Mode,” and you can turn it off by switching to “Massage Mode.” You don’t want to floss for too long, and the WP-660 even has an automatic shutoff after 5 minutes of continuous use. Waterpik recommends not using a water flosser for more than 5 minutes over a 2 hour period.
You might notice that some of the lower priced Waterpik models don’t have a lid for the reservoir. Some people don’t like this as they don’t want random objects falling into the water (hair comes to mind), which then gets sprayed into their mouth. All of the recommended models we’re showing here have lids. The WP-300 Traveler doesn’t have a reservoir lid, but that’s primarily for the convenience of being able to store it away easily.
Lastly, the rotating tip is super convenient and helps you maneuver as you spray without having to worry about the hose twisting. It also is a critical feature if you have braces or other orthodontics. Majority of the Waterpik lineup has the rotating tip, and all of the Complete Care products do, but the WP-300 Traveler, WP-100 For Kids, and the WF-04 Sidekick do not. As for the cordless models, the WF-03 Cordless Freedom and WF-02 Cordless Express are the only models that don’t have a rotating tip.
Best Waterpik Flossers Comparison Table
Analysis
The Waterpik WP-660 Aquarius has all the features we like to see and has a 3-year warranty. Having 10 pressure settings makes a big difference when you first start flossing, and it’s nice to be able to tune it just right if you have sensitive areas. It looks sleek, and you probably wouldn’t mind leaving it sitting on your countertop.
The 650 mL reservoir on the Aquarius is one of the largest, but the older Waterpik WP-72 and WP-60 models have the big 1000 mL reservoirs. The Aquarius has a flow rate of about 400 mL per minute. Since the recommended water floss session takes 1 minute, there is enough time to get everything done and have some extra floss time with just a single tank.
The timer function is almost exclusive to the Aquarius model. It certainly is a helpful feature if you’re just getting started and are trying to break old habits. However, we found it’s more convenient to focus on being sure you floss between every tooth and clean all interdental spaces. You still need to be mindful of how long you’re flossing, as exceeding 5 minutes is not recommended.
The WF-04 Sidekick takes the crown for being travel-friendly and super compact. The significant improvement over the WP-300 Traveler is the 3-year warranty, as a lot can happen if you carry these around in your luggage. But you also get 5 pressure settings instead of 3, which makes the Sidekick much more convenient to use.
Now, how about the H2Ofloss?
The H2Ofloss HF-8 Whisper is a solid budget choice. It has a slightly wider pressure range, larger reservoir, and more tips included than the Waterpik WP-660. The manufacturer seems to be responsive and honors the 2-year warranty, which can sometimes be shaky with Chinese sellers. Overall it’s a great budget option and performs well.
Voltage Questions
If you live outside North America, then you must make sure you’re buying either a model with “Global Voltage” compatibility or a model that meets the voltage standards in your country.
How do you do that?
For example, if you live in the UK then you would want to purchase the Waterpik WP-660UK model. If you’re buying from Amazon, then just be sure you’re accessing your country’s version of the store so that you can see the correct models.
Are you trying to use an adapter or transformer?
This doesn’t seem to work and will void your warranty. We don’t have access to a 220V outlet to test it, but there are many reports of people that have tried using adapters only to find that they have fried their Waterpik. As long as you buy a model with the “Global Voltage” compatibility, there should be no issue using an adapter.
The Waterpik WP-300 Traveler or WF-04 Sidekick are what you need if you frequently travel outside of North America and need to bring your water flosser.
More Common Questions About Waterpik Water Flossers
Q: Can more than one person share a single unit?
A: Yes, but it’s recommended that you each use a different tip. However, if you sanitize the tip after each use, there should be an issue with sharing.
Q: Can I add mouthwash to the reservior?
A: Yes, you can add mouthwash and other water-soluble additives, but Waterpik recommends not adding water-insoluble concentrated essential oils. They can damage the pump and reduce the life of your water flosser. Also, be sure to wash out any leftover solution that might dry and clog up the flosser.
Q: If I purchase a Waterpik from Amazon is the warranty still valid?
A: Yes, Amazon is an authorized retailer for Waterpik products.
Q: Do the spray tips need to be replaced after a few months?
A: No, if you need to clean them you can add 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to a full reservoir and run it until empty. It’s a good idea to do this once a month.
Waterpik WP-660 Water Flosser Color Options
White
Black
Blue
Teal
Waterpik WF-04 Sidekick Water Flosser Color Options
White/Chrome
Black/Copper
White/Rose Gold
Waterpik Water Flossing Tips
Each Waterpik model comes with enough tips that you likely won’t need to buy any for a long time. If you intend to share the flosser, then you might notice the tips have a color-coded base. This makes sharing between two people easy.
Waterpik recommends replacing the Classic Jet Tip and Tongue Scraper every 6 months, and the others every 3 months.
You’re probably wondering whether or there is a large performance difference between the different tips. According to research available from Waterpik, we know there is not a significant difference between the Classic Jet Tip and the Plaque Seeker Tip. For that reason, the tip you use is just a matter of personal preference. If one feels particularly better to you, then just use that one.
JT-100E Waterpik Classic Jet Tip
OD-100E Waterpik Orthodontic Tip
PP-100E Waterpik Pik Pocket Tip
In situations where you have orthodontics or dental braces, you might find the tapered brush on the Orthodontic Tip (OD-100E) to be helpful. The Plaque Seeker Tip has 3 thin tufts of bristles for getting plaque around implants, crowns, bridges, veneers, and any other trouble spots. There may be situations where these tips help, but as we mentioned above the study didn’t show a significant improvement.
TB-100E Waterpik Water Flosser Toothbrush Tip
PS-100E Waterpik Plaque Seeker Tip
TC-100E Waterpik Water Flosser Tongue Cleaner
Waterpik Convenient Hygienic Sturdy Storage Case
If you find you need a softer tip, the Pik Pocket is excellent for periodontal pockets and furcations. Keeping pockets clean after procedures is extremely important for healing. When using the Pik Pocket Tip, you will need to set the pressure to the lowest setting.
The Toothbrush Tip isn’t a spinning or sonic toothbrush. It’s completely stationary and is like taking a manual toothbrush and having a water jet in the center.
As for the tongue scraper, we didn’t find it particularly helpful and a regular toothbrush would work just fine. It’s also tricky to use as water is spraying down your throat and you use the scraper, which isn’t very comfortable for some people.
Waterpik Whitening Water Flossers
First off, what’s the difference between these other water flossers and a “whitening” water flosser?
It’s all in the handle.
The whitening water flosser has a unique handle that lets you add whitening tablets in-line with the water flowing through it. It uses one tablet per flossing session, and the tablet must be placed in the handle, not the reservoir.
Waterpik Water Flossers & Electric Toothbrush Combos
These Complete Care systems are meant to be complete replacements for your dental care routine. They’re a combination of an electric toothbrush and a water flosser.
You may be wondering: Are these as good as if I had bought them separately? Are they a good deal?
It depends on your needs.
Check out the table below for a quick glimpse at the different Complete Care systems. Our analysis follows after that.
Best Waterpik Water Flossers & Toothbrush Combos
Analysis
Regarding water flossing features, all of the Complete Care water flossers have a rotating tip and 10 pressure settings. The reservoirs range from 22 to 23 oz (650 to 700 mL) and are about the same size as the WP-660 Aquarius we covered above.
None of the Complete Care systems have a timer/pacer function. While it’s a feature we consider very convenient, it isn’t a hard requirement. What this means is that you will need to make sure you spend at least the recommended 1 minute per water flossing session, but don’t exceed 5 minutes.
All of the Complete Care systems have a 2-year warranty. This isn’t as good as the 3-year warranty included with the Sidekick, Aquarius, and Ultra models above.
None of the Complete Care systems are travel friendly. As in there isn’t a model that is as compact as the WF-04 Sidekick or WP-300 Traveler we covered above. They also do not have global voltage compatibility.
Our In-depth Complete Care Review
About the Included Waterpik Electric Toothbrushes
The majority of the Waterpik electric toothbrushes are “sonic” style brushes, with the exception being the rotary/oscillating CC-02 Complete Care 9.5 system and the Complete Care 5.5.
What does that mean?
Rotary brushes do just that: they rotate. This is why the brush heads are circular instead of elliptical. Many models also oscillate towards and away from your teeth. In general, rotary/oscillating electric toothbrushes perform fewer “strokes” than a sonic toothbrush.
The sonic toothbrush performs a side-to-side motion, and the brush heads are usually elliptical. That’s why you hold the brush sideways against your teeth it is brushing up and down and covers a wide area.
Electric toothbrushes can outperform manual toothbrushes, and either type of electric toothbrush will serve you well. The difference between 5,000 strokes from a rotary brush and 30,000 strokes from a sonic brush doesn’t seem to produce a big difference.
One of the more practical differences between these brush types is the feeling of the brush head itself. The rotary/oscillating brush heads are smaller and are about the size of a single tooth. This means as you brush you will be focusing on moving the brush around one tooth at a time and it requires a little more effort to make sure you don’t miss anything. The sonic brush heads can cover more than one tooth at a time and feel like they do more of the work for you, at least in our opinion.
How do Waterpik brushes compare to Philips Sonicare or Oral-B?
Oral-B electric toothbrushes are rotary/oscillating style brushes, while Philips Sonicare toothbrushes are – of course – sonic toothbrushes.
The Philips Sonicare brushes have up to 6 different brush settings, whereas the Waterpik has 3 on most models. This doesn’t seem to be a big deal for most people, as the most popular Oral-B electric toothbrush (the Pro 1000) only has one setting.
Oral-B and Philips Sonicare both have more variety of brush heads to choose from (about 6 to 9), whereas Waterpik only has 2.
Oral-B has a variety of battery types across their different models, including NiMH, LiPo, and Lithium-Ion. Philips Sonicare has a mix of Lithium-Ion and NiMH, with the Lithium-Ion being in the more expensive models and the NiMH in the lower priced models. Lithium-Ion is generally the better battery type but is more costly than NiMH.
Waterpik exclusively uses NiMH batteries in their electric toothbrushes. No doubt this is to keep costs down with these Complete Care systems.
How to take care of your Waterpik NiMH Battery?
Here are Waterpik’s recommendations:
- Charge 24 Hours before first use.
- If you’re going to store the brush for 6 months or more, fully charge it before storage.
We know there are things you can do to take better care of a NiMH battery, so we always try to include these tips for products that use them. There’s a ton of mixed information out there, but the guys over at tested.com have some solid info.
The two pieces of advice you can use:
- Remove the batteries when the recharge is complete.
- Don’t regularly discharge your batteries completely
Now, you can’t remove the batteries, but the problem this tip is referencing is that when the charge controller for your NiMH battery isn’t sophisticated enough to stop trying to charge the battery once it’s full, it can damage the battery. This means you will need to charge the battery once every week or more depending on usage. This is a good general rule for any other product you might have that uses NiMH batteries.
Voltage Questions
None of the Complete Care systems have the “Global Voltage” compatibility. This means you won’t be able to use them if you travel outside North America with a Complete Care system that was made for 120VAC.
If you’re buying online from a retailer like Amazon, then you need to be sure that you’re in the store specific to your country. For example, if you’re in the UK you can be sure to navigate to the
Amazon.co.uk site to buy the Complete Care system with a 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz plug compatibility. It should be explicitly written in the product description that the unit has global voltage compatibility if you’re looking to buy a Waterpik for use outside of North America.
More Common Questions for Waterpik Complete Care Systems
Q: Can I buy replacement brush heads for the electric toothbrush?
A: Yes, they’re available from Amazon. For example, if you have the Complete Care WP-900 or Complete Care 7.0 (WP-950/WP-952) then you can buy the brush heads here. There is only one brush head type available for most Waterpik brushes.
Q: Can more than one person share a single unit?
A: Yes, but it’s recommended that you each use a different tip. However, if you sanitize the tip after each use, there should be an issue with sharing.
Q: Can I add mouthwash to the reservior?
A: Yes, you can add mouthwash and other water-soluble additives, but Waterpik recommends not adding water-insoluble concentrated essential oils. They can damage the pump and reduce the life of your water flosser. Also, be sure to wash out any leftover solution that might dry and clog up the flosser.
Q: If I purchase a Waterpik from Amazon is the warranty still valid?
A: Yes, Amazon is an authorized retailer for Waterpik products.
Q: Do the spray tips need to be replaced after a few months?
A: No, if you need to clean them you can add 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to a full reservoir and run it until empty. It’s a good idea to do this once a month.
Waterpik Complete Care 7.0 (WP-950) Color Options
White
Black
Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 (CC-01) Color Options
White
Black
Waterpik Cordless Water Flossers
Cordless water flossers are much more compact than even the travel-friendly countertop water flossers above, and you don’t have to sacrifice too much of the flow rate.
The Waterpik WP-560 Cordless has a flow rate of about 10 oz (300 mL) per minute, whereas the highest countertop flosser is at 13 oz (400 mL) per minute. We feel the performance is still there and the decreased reservoir capacity isn’t too much trouble. You’ll likely need to refill once per flossing session.
Features to look out for:
- Charge Time
- Pressure Settings
- Warranty
- Reservoir Capacity
Our favorite model, the WP-560, has the shortest charge time at 4 hours. It’s terrible to pull this out of your travel bag and realize you forgot to charge it, but 4 hours is a big improvement over the 24 hours required by the WP-450. However, you should never let it drop that low.
Check out this table for a quick overview of the features. Our analysis follows it below.
Best Waterpik Cordless Water Flossers
Analysis
As you can see, the WP-560 is the best bang for your buck with the global voltage, short charge time, and high flow rate. Having 3 pressure settings is a nice bonus as well, but you probably will keep it at the max setting anyway.
The small size of the countertop WF-04 Sidekick model competes with these cordless water flossers in terms of travel friendliness. The body of the Sidekick actualy fits inside the water reservoir. That’s really convenient.
The Sidekick isn’t a solution for every situation, and there are occasions where a cordless model makes more sense. For example, if you just finished your in-flight meal from New York to San Francisco, you could quickly grab the WP-560, and go to the bathroom and floss. The Sidekick doesn’t have a lid for the reservoir, so you can pretty much guarantee you would end up with water on the floor or your Sidekick in the toilet. That’s bad news.
Now, what about the WF-03 Cordless Freedom?
Not having to worry about recharging batteries is nice, as long as you keep an AA battery supply. You also don’t have to worry about traveling outside of North America and not be able to plug it in.
However, you do get a little less flow at 8 oz (260 mL) per minute. It’s a little noticeable if you’re comparing to the WP-560. It’s really noticeable if you’re comparing to the Sidekick or any other countertop flosser.
It is very affordable and may work well for you.
Voltage Questions
If you’re buying online from a retailer like Amazon, then you need to be sure that you’re in the store specific to your country. For example, if you’re in the UK you can be sure to navigate to the Amazon.co.uk site to buy the WP-560UK model with a 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz plug compatibility. It should be explicitly written in the product description that the unit has global voltage compatibility if you’re looking to buy a Waterpik for use outside of North America.
More Common Questions with Waterpik Cordless Water Flossers
Q: How does the water pressure from the WF-03 compare to a countertop model?
A: The lowest setting on the cordless WF-03 is equal to about a 4 on the WP-670 Aquarius, and the highest setting on the WP-03 is about equal to a 7 on the Aquarius.
Q: Can the water reservoir be cleaned out?
A: Yes, you should regularly wash it out with water/vinegar and spray a whole tank of water and vinegar mixture through the flosser. How often? Once a month is a good idea.
Q: Can I used mouthwash in a cordless Waterpik?
A: Yes, but it’s a good idea to add mouthwash to water, or run a full tank of water through the flosser afterward. If the residue from the mouthwash dries inside the flosser, it could clog up.
Q: How long does the WF-03 run on a set of batteries?
A: Brushing twice daily you will get maybe 3 weeks to a month. 1.5 to 2 months if used once daily. This depends on the type and quality of batteries you use.
Q: Can the WP-560 Cordless Advanced flosser be used in the shower?
A: Yes, it’s waterproof.
Waterpik WP-560 Cordless Advanced Color Options
White
Blue
Black
Waterpik WF-03 Cordless Freedom Color Options
White
Black
Conclusion
If someone walked up to me and asked, “Which Waterpik should I buy?”. I would say the WP-660 Aquarius. It has all the features the average person needs and is one of the best performing water flossers at an affordable price.
The battle between being ultra-portable and retaining quality/performance is fought between the WF-04 Sidekick and the Cordless models. Declaring one of them “the best” is nonsense, because they both fill a need.
However, trying to go cordless with appliances and tools can be tricky. People want the convenience of being able to tasks without having to deal with the reality (limitations) of batteries. Then they complain when their (unrealistic) expectations aren’t met.
It also doesn’t help that manufacturers often use the cheapest batteries they can reasonably get away with.
In our opinion, the Cordless Water Flossers are great for someone on the road that doesn’t mind keeping their flosser charged or swapping batteries out. It’s just the way things are, and that’s the price you pay for the “convenience” of going cordless.
The WF-04 Sidekick is exceptionally portable and performs just as well as the Aquarius. Not that you would want to, but you could comfortably fit it into a typical woman’s purse.
For us, the Sidekick is the best option for a frequent traveler that has some patience.