How to actually use a water flosser correctly, according to dentists

Standing in front of the mirror and maneuvering a thin floss thread between your teeth isn’t pleasant. But flossing is an important part of any oral hygiene routine — it removes plaque, a sticky film made of bacteria that coats your teeth and can cause cavities, as well as eventual tooth decay. Luckily, dental floss is not your only option. Water flossers are an alternative that some may find easier and more enjoyable to use. But are they effective? I talked to dentists to learn more about the pros and cons of water flossers, how to shop for them and what models are worth buying.

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Water flossers are powered handheld devices that look like little wands or electric toothbrushes. They shoot pressurized water at the spaces between your teeth to flush out plaque and help keep gum tissue healthy, says Dr. Amr Moursi, an NYU College of Dentistry professor. They function differently than dental floss, which mechanically scrapes plaque away from the surface of teeth, says Dr. Samantha Rawdin, a prosthodontist at Gallery 57 Dental in New York City.

Experts recommend considering the following factors while shopping for water flossers, also called powered interdental cleaners and oral irrigators. Remember that the more bells and whistles a water flosser has, the more it typically costs.

• ADA Seal of Acceptance: A water flosser earns the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance if a brand submits data to the organization showing that its device is safe for teeth and effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis. This doesn’t mean water flossers without the ADA Seal are ineffective — it just means brands haven’t submitted their products for the organization to review, says Dr. Edmond Hewlett, a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Only two brands of water flossers currently have the ADA Seal of Acceptance: Waterpik and Philips Sonicare. You can learn which ones here.
• Cordless v.s. corded: Water flossers are either corded and must be plugged in while you use them, or they’re cordless and built with rechargeable batteries. To decide between the two, think about whether you want to dedicate an outlet in your bathroom to the water flosser and whether you plan to keep it out all the time. If you have limited counter space in your bathroom and/or plan to travel with your water flosser, a cordless model is the best option. On the other hand, if you have lots of counter space in your bathroom and only plan to use it at home, a corded model is a great choice.
• Water reservoir size: Water flossers have reservoirs that hold the liquid they eventually shoot out of their nozzles. Some reservoirs are large, so they hold enough water for a few cleanings, while others are small and only hold enough water for one cleaning. Corded water flossers typically have larger water reservoirs compared to cordless models.
• Pressure settings: Different pressure settings let you adjust the strength of the stream that comes out of your water flosser. Rawdin says flexibility is important, especially if you’re new to water flossers and learning how to use one.
• Tips: Many water flossers come with interchangeable tips that you attach to the wand’s head. Some tips target specific needs, like orthodontics, periodontal pockets and implants, while others are for general plaque removal. Think about your dental needs to decide which you feel are the most important to look for, and be sure to buy a water flosser that comes with two or more tips, especially if you’re sharing it with someone. You’ll need to clean and replace the tips over time and buy new ones as needed (more on tip care below). Also, look for tips that rotate 360 degrees to clean your mouth at different angles.

All the water flossers below meet experts’ shopping guidance and have at least a 4.0-star average rating from hundreds of reviews at major retailers like Amazon, Target and Best Buy. For each model, I included the following important information: power source, water reservoir size, pressure settings, included tips and whether its tip rotates 360 degrees. Every water flosser on the list below has an on/off switch built into its handle so you can easily pause the stream.

Best corded: Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser

What we like

• Built-in timer
• Large removable reservoir
• Compact base

Something to note

• Can be noisy
• Cord can get in the way

The Waterpik Aquarius is one of the most popular models on the market with a 4.6-star average rating from 143,929 reviews on Amazon. It also earned the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance. You can remove the water flosser’s 22-ounce reservoir from its base, making filling and cleaning in the dishwasher convenient. The device uses pressure and pulsations to lift plaque off teeth, and you can choose a pressure setting using the built-in dial. You’re also able to select between two modes: floss and massage. One flossing session lasts 90 seconds — the water flosser briefly pauses at 30 seconds and one minute to help you keep track of time. It comes with four types of tips: standard precision, orthodontic, pik pocket (best for periodontal pockets) and plaque seeker (best for dental work like implants, bridges and retainers).

Power source: corded | Water reservoir size: 22 oz. | Pressure settings: 10 | Included tips: 7 | Rotating tip: yes

Best cordless: Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser 3000

What we like

• X-shaped water stream option
• Two-week battery life
• Ergonomic handle

Something to note

• Water reservoir not removable

Philip Sonicare’s cordless water flosser has two tips: standard and quad stream. The quad stream option is X-shaped, so the water stream is wide when it comes out of the nozzle and covers more tooth surface area, according to the brand. The wand has an 8-ounce reservoir built into its handle, which holds enough water for one minute of flossing. The ADA-accepted water flosser runs for up to 14 days on a fully charged battery and comes with a USB charging cable. You can choose from two flossing modes: clean mode, which maintains constant pressure and briefly pauses water flow every 15 seconds, and deep clean with pulse, which increases and decreases water flow during use.

Power source: cordless | Water reservoir size: 8 oz. | Pressure settings: 3 | Included tips: 2 | Rotating tip: yes

Editor’s pick: Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 Water Flosser

What we like

• Impressive battery life
• Ideal for travel
• Removable reservoir

Rebecca Rodriguez, NBC Select manager of editorial operations, has been using Waterpik’s water flossers for years and most recently opted for this cordless ADA-accepted model due to the limited counter space in her apartment’s bathroom. “It’s so satisfying to see just how much the water flosser cleans out the nooks and crannies of my mouth,” she says. “It also has an impressive battery life — I charge it about once every three or four weeks. Plus, the three pressure settings let me alternate between low pressure for areas of my mouth that might be sensitive and high pressure for when there’s something really stuck in there.”

This water flosser comes with a magnetic charging system, which re-powers the device in about four hours, according to the brand. The handle also has a battery life indicator so you know when to plug it in. Its removable, dishwasher-safe reservoir snaps into the back of the handle and holds enough water for about 45 seconds of flossing. The water flosser has four tips: standard precision, orthodontic and plaque seeker (best for dental work like implants, bridges and retainers). You also get a microfiber travel bag, a travel water plug and a tip storage case.

Power source: cordless | Water reservoir size: 7 oz. | Pressure settings: 3 | Included tips: 4 | Rotating tip: yes

Most cordless pressure settings: Panasonic EW1511W Professional Cordless Water Flosser

What we like

• Many pressure settings
• Quick charging
• Battery life indicator

Something to note

• Need to recharge often
• One type of tip included
• Water reservoir not removable

The other cordless water flossers on this list have two or three pressure settings, but this one has five, giving you the most control over the stream’s strength. As the device pushes water through its nozzle, it creates microbubbles that help break up food and debris on the surface of your teeth, according to the brand. The water flosser comes with a charging base that re-powers it in an hour — you get about 10 minutes of battery life per charge, according to the brand, and there’s a battery life indicator on the handle. Its reservoir, built into the back of the handle, holds enough water for about 60 seconds of flossing. The water flosser only comes with standard tips.

Power source: cordless | Water reservoir size: 6.8 oz. | Pressure settings: five | Included ips: 2 | Rotating tip: yes

Best toothbrush water flosser: Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0 Professional Flossing Toothbrush

What we like

• Use to brush, floss or both
• Included brush head storage
• Compact base

Something to note

• Cord needed for flossing
• Head doesn’t rotate

This ADA-accepted device looks like a standard electric toothbrush, but it’s also a water flosser — a small opening in the middle of its brush head shoots out pressurized water. You can use the device to brush, floss or do both simultaneously by selecting a mode on its handle. When you exclusively use it as a toothbrush, the handle is cordless. But when you use it as a water flosser, you plug a cord into the bottom of the handle, connecting it to the dishwasher-safe, removable reservoir, which holds enough water for 60 seconds of flossing. The device’s base must be plugged into an outlet because it charges the handle.

Waterpik’s flossing toothbrush has two brush speeds, a two-minute brushing timer and a dial on its base that lets you choose from 10 floss pressures. It comes with full-size and travel-size flossing brush heads, brush head covers, a toothbrush travel case and a brush head storage post that magnetically connects to the base.

Power source: corded and cordless, depending on mode | Water reservoir size: 16 oz. | Pressure settings: 10 | Included tips: 2 | Rotating tip: no

Best budget buy: AquaSonic Aqua Flosser

What we like

• Lower price point
• Comes with tongue scraper tip
• Storage bag for travel

Something to note

• Battery life not specified
• Charging time not specified

AquaSonic’s water flosser is a lower-priced model designed with all the features experts recommend looking for. It has a removable reservoir that connects to the handle, and it comes with four types of tips: standard, periodontal, orthodontic and a tongue scraper. You also get a storage bag to house everything while traveling. The water flosser charges overnight and its battery lasts for weeks, according to the brand.

Power source: cordless | Water reservoir size: about 18 oz. | Pressure settings: 3 | Included tips: 5 | Rotating tip: yes

Best for beginners: Quip Water Flosser

What we like

• Simple operation
• Tip subscription service
• Easy-to-fill reservoir

Something to note

• Reservoir size not specified

With only two buttons on its handle, two pressure settings and one type of tip, Quip’s water flosser has a simple, straightforward design ideal for beginners. Once you plug the device into its charger, it repowers in four hours — a full battery lasts up to eight weeks, according to the brand. The reservoir, which holds enough water for 60 seconds of flossing, is built into the handle, and it has a wide lid that opens at the top, making it easy to fill. To help you remember when to replace the water flosser’s tip, Quip offers a subscription service that sends you a new one every three months for $7.

Power source: cordless | Water reservoir size: not specified | Pressure settings: 2 | Included tips: 2 | Rotating tip: yes

At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Amr Moursi is a professor at the NYU College of Dentistry.
• Dr. Edmond Hewlett is a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry.
• Dr. Samantha Rawdin is a prosthodontist at Gallery 57 Dental in New York City.

I’m a reporter at NBC Select who has covered dental care since 2020, including topics like toothpaste, floss, water flossers, electric toothbrushes and at-home whitening kits. To write this article, I interviewed three experts about how to shop for water flossers and rounded up the best options to shop.