Do dentists recommend water flossers?

Yes, many dentists recommend water flossers to their patients. And the American Dental Association awards the ADA Seal of Acceptance to water flossers that meet certain criteria, noting that they can help remove plaque from the gum line and between teeth. Studies have generally found that water flossers are at least as effective as using string floss to remove food particles from between teeth.

Do water flossers damage gums?

No. Water flossers have undergone testing as to how they affect plaque formation, bleeding, and gum pocket depth. The consensus is that water flossers help remove plaque and are effective and safe to use.

Do water flossers help with bleeding gums?

They can. One study showed reduced bacteria in gum pockets as deep as 6 millimeters, and another study showed that patients who reported gum inflammation and bleeding showed reduced bleeding after using a water flosser.

How often should you use a water flosser?

At least once per day. As the American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth twice per day and flossing once per day, use your water flosser once per day in place of or after traditional flossing.

The 8 Best Water Flossers of 2023

Much to the chagrin of dentists everywhere, flossing is somewhat of the ugly stepchild of the oral care world. Brushing your teeth twice a day? Doable. Flossing twice a day? For some reason, that feels like an obscene request. That’s where the beauty of a good water flosser comes in, making the once-dreaded task easier than ever yet still offering the same efficacy as the OG method.

As the name suggests, these handheld devices rely on a pressurized stream of water to help flush out food and any other debris from spaces in between your teeth. “One of the biggest advantages water flossers have over traditional floss is that they require less manual dexterity,” says Dr. Angelique Freking (i.e., no more trying to wrangle a tiny piece of floss in the back of your mouth). She adds that they’re also great for patients with dental work such as bridges and an especially good pick for anyone with braces, which are extremely hard to keep clean.

We conducted hours of research on the best water flossers, evaluating them on pressure settings, special features, certifications, if any, size, and charging time, among other attributes. After consulting with a dentist and a periodontist, and considering dozens of options, we landed on these top-rated choices.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Waterpik Water Flosser at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Overall, Runner-Up:

Philips Sonicare Power Flosser at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Cordless:

Waterpik Cordless Plus Water Flosser at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Budget:

Burst Water Flosser at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Multitasking:

Jetpik Power Floss System at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Deep Cleansing:

Orasana WaterJet at Orasana.com

Jump to Review

Best for Braces:

Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Value:

Waterpik ION Professional Water Flosser at Amazon

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy

What We Like

Trusted brand
Large tank
Comes in various colors

What We Don’t Like

Takes up a lot of counter space

According to Dr. Freking, Waterpik makes the gold standard of water flossers: “They’ve been around the longest, and dentists trust the brand,” she says. (Some of the brand’s products have even been studied head-to-head against regular floss and shown to be more effective.) She likes this model in particular because it has great power and a large reservoir tank, so you won’t have to refill it as frequently. It also touts an impressive range of 10 water pressure settings, seven tips, and a massaging mode for gum health. The varying pressure levels ensure there is adequate pressure to dislodge food particles from between your teeth. It's also easy to set up and use.

Price at time of publish: $60

Pressure Settings: 10 | Tips: 7 | Power: Electric | Special Features: Massaging mode for gums, built-in timer

4.9

Philips

View On Amazon

What We Like

Has the ADA Seal of Acceptance
Quiet operation
Can fill reservoir with mouthwash

What We Don’t Like

Takes up a lot of counter space

Another great overall option, this is the only Philips brand interdental cleaner to receive a Seal of Acceptance from the American Dental Association (and one of only five total devices that have that distinction). It features a unique, X-shape stream of water to help thoroughly clean both in between teeth and along the gums and is engineered to be super quiet, too—always a win in our book.

Price at time of publish: $100

Pressure Settings: 10 | Tips: 2 | Power: Electric | Special Features: Quad stream tip creates four streams of water

Waterpik Rechargeable Cordless Plus Water Flosser

Wal-Greens

View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart

What We Like

Cordless design
Charges quickly
Portable and lightweight

What We Don’t Like

Has less pressure than corded options

If you are looking for a good compact, cordless option, Dr. Freking recommends this one. While they do have less pressure and a smaller tank, the upside is that you can keep cordless models in the shower (just make sure to clean them regularly), and they’re easy to pack for travel, she says.

Per that point, this one is waterproof, charges quickly, and has a convenient indicator that shows the status of the battery, which is particularly long-lasting. It comes with four tips, all of which rotate 360 degrees.

Price at time of publish: $102

Pressure Settings: 10 | Tips: 4 | Power: Battery, rechargeable | Special Features: Rotating tips, rapid charging system

Burstoralcare

View On Amazon View On Co.uk

What We Like

Cordless design
Long-lasting battery life
Comes in various colors

What We Don’t Like

Has less pressure than corded options

Dr. Freking also likes this cordless option. At the risk of sounding vain, it’s one of the more aesthetically pleasing water flossers we’ve seen, featuring a sleek, compact design and available in white, black, pink, and purple. Charge it overnight, and you’ll get up to 80 days of battery life; it also comes with a convenient travel bag. It does only have three pressure settings, although they do offer a nice array of options. It also retails for a little less than other leading options.

Price at time of publish: $60

Pressure Settings: 3 | Tips: 1 (2 others can be purchased separately) | Power: Battery, rechargeable | Special Features: 80-day battery life, rotating tips

Jetpik

View On Amazon View On Jetpik.com

What We Like

Combines multiple dental tools
Good value
Can be charged via USB

What We Don’t Like

Must repurchase entire system if battery dies

This one device pretty much does it all. The innovative tool acts as a pulsing water irrigator, electric dental floss, and sonic toothbrush all in one, leaving your teeth and gums healthier and saving real estate on your countertop.

Price at time of publish: $90

Pressure Settings: 3 | Tips: 3 | Power: Battery, rechargeable | Special Features: Works as toothbrush and electric floss

Orasana

View On Orasana.com

What We Like

Cordless design
Safe for kids 8 years and up
Periodontist-developed

What We Don’t Like

Only has three pressure settings

This product was created by Dr. Sanda Moldovan, who says water flossing is her preferred flossing MO. “The pulsating water stream can reach up to 6 millimeters under the gum and 360 degrees around the tooth,” she explains. Most people don’t reach that deep with other flossing methods, she adds. Still, the adjustable three pressure levels are gentle enough that they can even be used on kids ages 8 and up.

Price at time of publish: $90

Pressure Settings: 3 | Tips: 3 | Power: Battery, rechargeable | Special Features: Easy-fill reservoir, comes with a travel case

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Multiple streams and settings
Cordless design

What We Don't Like

Small reservoir

Oral-B is a trusted name in the dental game, and its portable Water Flosser Advanced model is one of the best for deep cleaning. With three pressure settings (intense, medium, and sensitive) and three flossing streams (Multi-jet, Focused, and Rotational), you're sure to get plaque and debris out of every nook and cranny. It's an especially good choice if you have braces because it gets in between the grooves of your teeth and other tight spaces. You'll even get two replacement nozzles in case one gets lost.

Price at time of publish: $85

Pressure Settings: 3 | Tips: 3 | Power: Battery, rechargeable | Special Features: Rechargeable handle, easy-fill reservoir

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Compact, cordless design
Long-lasting battery
Many pressure settings and tips included

What We Don't Like

Tips can get clogged

If you have periodontal pockets, or dental work like crowns and bridges, this water flosser has 10 pressure settings and 7 tips to access hard-to-reach areas. With full functionality, it's also compact and much smaller than other models, giving you a great value at a reasonable price. And it comes with a USB-A cable for easy charging, among other bells and whistles like a 1-minute timer.

Price at time of publish: $100

Pressure Settings: 10 | Tips: 7 | Power: Battery, rechargeable | Special Features: Magnetic rechargeable handle, easy-fill reservoir

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Waterpik Aquarius Flosser because it's equipped with everything you need to keep your gums healthy, like 10 pressure modes, seven tips, a large reservoir tank, and a massaging gum mode. But if you'd rather spend a little less, the cordless Burst Water Flosser is also effective and looks great on your bathroom counter. The Philips Sonicare Power Flosser is also a great option because it has a quiet operation, a unique X-stream of water to deep clean your gums, and it is approved by the American Dental Association.

Meet the Expert

Angelique Freking, DDS, is a general and cosmetic dentist and the director of dentistry at Park Slope Dental in New York City.
Sanda Moldovan, MS, DDS, is a double board-certified periodontist and nutritionist in Beverly Hills. She is also the founder of Orasana, an All-Natural Oral Health & Wellness brand that understands the connection between the mouth and the overall health of the body.

What to Look For in a Water Flosser

Power source

Are you going to be taking your water flosser with you to the office and on frequent trips? You may want a cordless, portable model that can easily be tucked away into your bag. If you require deeper cleaning, one product on this list combines a water flosser with an electric toothbrush and floss. Or, if children will be using the water flosser, you'll want an easy-to-use model that makes it fun for them to floss. Additionally, if you are planning on using your water flosser in the shower, be sure to find a water-resistant model.

Pressure modes

Everyone has different preferences for how soft or strong they want the water pressure against their teeth and gums to be. This is particularly important for those with sensitive and sore gums. Many models, including the Waterpik Cordless Plus Water Flosser, have multiple settings to ensure your water flossing experience is comfortable. Lighter pressure modes can also be more suitable for children as they get used to using the water flosser.

Nozzle tips

Some models come with different-sized tips to place into the water flosser depending on if you have dental work like braces. Our pick for kids on this list, the Orasana WaterJet, has three tips to be used for regular cleaning or for braces. And the Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced has seven tips, ensuring you'll find the perfect one for you. Having more options means you can find the fit that works for you.

FAQ

Do dentists recommend water flossers?

Yes, many dentists recommend water flossers to their patients. And the American Dental Association awards the ADA Seal of Acceptance to water flossers that meet certain criteria, noting that they can help remove plaque from the gum line and between teeth. Studies have generally found that water flossers are at least as effective as using string floss to remove food particles from between teeth.
Do water flossers damage gums?

No. Water flossers have undergone testing as to how they affect plaque formation, bleeding, and gum pocket depth. The consensus is that water flossers help remove plaque and are effective and safe to use.
Do water flossers help with bleeding gums?

They can. One study showed reduced bacteria in gum pockets as deep as 6 millimeters, and another study showed that patients who reported gum inflammation and bleeding showed reduced bleeding after using a water flosser.
How often should you use a water flosser?

At least once per day. As the American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth twice per day and flossing once per day, use your water flosser once per day in place of or after traditional flossing.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. After resolving to floss daily (and continuously falling short of her goal), she has recently recommitted to making it a part of her daily routine. Since floss picks are her preferred method, she relied on the input of experts and consumer reviews to write this story.

The 6 Best Electric Toothbrushes of 2023, Tested and Approved

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Abdellatif H, Alnaeimi N, Alruwais H, Aldajan R, Hebbal MI. Comparison between water flosser and regular floss in the efficacy of plaque removal in patients after single use. Saudi Dent J. 2021;33(5):256-259.
Goyal CR, Lyle DM, Qaqish JG, Schuller R. Evaluation of the plaque removal efficacy of a water flosser compared to string floss in adults after a single use. J Clin Dent. 2013;24(2):37-42.
Abdellatif H, Alnaeimi N, Alruwais H, Aldajan R, Hebbal MI. Comparison between water flosser and regular floss in the efficacy of plaque removal in patients after single use. Saudi Dent J. 2021 Jul;33(5):256-259. doi: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2021.03.005.
Jolkovsky DL, Lyle DM. Safety of a water flosser: a literature review. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2015 Feb;36(2):146-9. PMID: 25822642.
Lyle DM. Use of a water flosser for interdental cleaning. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2011 Nov-Dec;32(9):78, 80-2. PMID: 22167932.
Bertl K, Edlund Johansson P, Stavropoulos A. Patients' opinion on the use of 2 generations of power-driven water flossers and their impact on gingival inflammation. Clin Exp Dent Res. 2021 May 31. doi: 10.1002/cre2.456. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34060707.

Best Overall

Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 5000

Best Cordless

Waterpik Rechargeable Cordless Plus Water Flosser

Best Budget

Burst Water Flosser

Best Multitasking

Jetpik JP200 Elite Dental Power Floss System

Best for Deep Cleansing

Orasana WaterJet

Best for Braces

Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced

Best Value

Waterpik ION Professional Water Flosser

Related Stories