The Best Water Flossers, According to In-Depth Testing (2024)

The Philips Sonicare water flosser secured the highest marks for its mess-free deep cleaning, user-friendliness and whisper-quiet operation, scoring a 96% in overall satisfaction from our panel of consumer testers. A GH consumer tester hailed it as their "all-time favorite" across two decades of experience with water flossers.

Boasting a quartet of water stream options — clean, deep clean, sensitive and massage — as well as an automatic timer, the device ensures a thorough gum-cleaning experience. A participant in our study noted a significant improvement, stating, "With my old flosser, I think I moved too fast between my teeth to do an effective job. I feel like I have now completely re-learned the correct way to use water flossers."

Outshining the competitors we tested, this unit features the longest hose at nearly four feet, coupled with a retractable cord and magnetic handle, delivering unmatched ease of use and simple storage. The convenient flip-top lid simplifies reservoir refills. For those who prioritize uncluttered countertops, the unit's compact and stylish design was a clear preference over bulkier alternatives previously tested by our users.

An updated version of the Waterpik ION countertop model that our testers found straightforward to use, this model has all the features you'd find in a top-of-the-line quality water filter, but at a fraction of the cost. Its earlier iteration got high marks for its ergonomic design and effective between-teeth cleaning, according to our testers. The retractable hose keeps countertop clutter minimal, but if you'd like to go cord-free, the flosser includes a rechargeable battery, too. "I love that it's wireless, and [it] can sit anywhere I want on my sink!" said one tester.

Switch between its seven tips, including a standard jet tip. If you're looking for the best Waterpik for implants, there's also an orthodontic tip that a tester said cleaned underneath "painlessly" and "with ease," adding that "I have one [area] that floss cannot reach, and this made it a breeze to reach... my dentist is going to be thrilled."

Turns out, there is a water flosser made just for you. Using a 3D-printed mouthpiece to floss all your teeth at once, the Proclaim Custom Jet Oral Health System impressed GH Beauty and Health Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. "Once you put the mouthpiece in and press the button, the system blasts the full tank of water through the mouth in about 7 seconds," she said. "The water comes out of a spout at the front of the mouth, so no water is sprayed around the bathroom." Ideal for those who struggle to keep up a flossing routine, the entire process is so fast that Butler said it took more time to fill the tank and rinse the mouthpiece than to floss.

The brand claims that it can replace manual flossing. They funded a clinical study with subjects who showed signs of gingivitis. The subjects were assigned manual toothbrushing alone, manual toothbrushing plus string flossing or manual toothbrushing plus the Proclaim system. Subjects in the brushing plus Proclaim group showed significantly greater reductions in clinical indices of gingivitis than those in the brushing and floss and brushing alone groups. At $799, it's truly an investment, but our pros thought it saved significant time and effort.

An updated version of a consumer favorite — the Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 — this can be used anywhere (including in the shower!), yet still has many of the features of a full-size flosser. Dr. Larbi also recommends this compact and versatile pick: “You won't believe how many of my patients end up stashing their water flossers under the sink and completely forgetting about them until I remind them during their checkup. So, having it in the shower will keep it in sight and make it easier for you to remember to use it regularly.”

We previously tested the original model of the Cordless Advanced Waterpik, and though we haven't formally tested the new version, we note that it now has a rechargeable lithium ion battery and comes with a magnetic charging cable that can be plugged into a USB port. One Amazon reviewer raved that it "delivers a powerful and consistent water stream," while another said "it’s light, not too bulky and fits well in the hand." This small but mighty flosser also comes with four tips, including two brush tips for cleaning around braces and loosening plaque. Since this flosser is compact, you may need to pause to refill it with water during a flossing session.

With an average 4.6-star rating across nearly 124K+ (!) reviews, Waterpik's Aquarius model has earned its spot as one of the best-selling water flossers on Amazon. Our consumer testers loved it too, saying “I definitely felt like I had professional cleaning done!” It comes with a whopping seven tips that serve different purposes: three classic, one for plaque, one for braces, one for periodontal pockets and one with a toothbrush head.

Its large reservoir holds up to 22 ounces of water (or mouthwash), which should equate to about 90 full seconds of flossing time — roughly three times more than most wet flossers. The large water capacity means that it will take up some space on your counter. Thankfully, it's available in four colors, including gray. Since it's going to stay on your countertop, the more color options, the better, we say.

Waterpik's cordless, space-saving model packs in cleaning performance that matches that of a full-sized Waterpik. Small, lightweight and cordless, it's a great option for travel too, earning a perfect score for not taking up too much countertop space in our tests. Though it requires more frequent reservoir refills than other models we tested, it scored the best among handheld devices for having an easy-fill tank.

Even though it only has two settings, the switch makes it easy to change the water pressure. It uses three AA batteries, so you don't have to worry about packing a charger on-the-go. The reservoir holds five ounces of water (equivalent to 30 seconds of use), and it has a removable tank that's super easy to clean — just throw it in the dishwasher on the top rack.

Our GH Institute pros tested 12 of the most popular models on the market and whittled down the list based on consumer and in-Lab testing data.

The Panasonic EW 1511 has two more pressure settings than our best cordless pick, but GH testers found this flosser not powerful enough to clean effectively. Consumers mentioned that the tank was quite small and thus had to refill it mid-flossing.

While a budget-friendly find, testers noted that the Burst Water Flosser's 110 mL tank required frequent refills, and they also found it messy to use.

For our most recent test of water flossers, our analysts evaluated the specs of 12 water flossers in the , and also sent them to consumer testers (to analyze at-home use) and our partner lab, Quiet Mark (to compare the amount of noise they generate).

We selected 119 people from our consumer tester panel who reported good dental hygiene habits (such as brushing twice a day and having a professional cleaning every six months) and who were already water flosser users. The testers were asked to use the flosser every day for at least one week, then fill out a survey in which they rated the water flosser’s ease of use and performance, as well as their overall satisfaction with the device.

Our final picks include options for all types of water flosser preferences, but we also adhered to certain qualifying criteria, including keeping the American Dental Association Seal in mind. Products approved by the ADA are proven to be safe and effective, though it's also important to note that only two water flosser brands carry the ADA seal: Waterpik and Philips.

✔️ Cordless vs. countertop: If you're looking for versatility and portability, opt for a handheld, cordless water flosser. Most cordless flossers can be used in the shower, minimizing mess. If you have the counter space, consider a corded countertop model as they have greater water capacity and more pressure settings. They’re also easier on the hands — since most of their weight rests on the counter, all you have to lift is a lightweight wand.

✔️ Pressure settings: Some water flossers only have a couple of pressure settings, while others as many as 10 options. Some settings offer deep cleaning for extra work on the gums, while sensitive options offer a thorough clean but with a gentler intensity.

✔️ Tips: Though classic tips work just fine, some tips serve a more specialized purpose: “The ortho [tip] is what I find helpful for younger patients, especially," said Sharon Huang, DDS. "A 10-year-old is not going to floss, so this is something that's going to help them." For someone who doesn't have the dexterity or has braces, the ortho tip makes cleaning easier, she says.

✔️ Water tank capacity: If you opt for a handheld version, keep in mind you'll have to sacrifice some reservoir space. Meanwhile, countertop flossers can run the gamut of 10 to 20 fluid ounces, which means you can usually clean your entire mouth in just one fill.

GH Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou suggested using soap and water to maintain cleanliness between deep cleans.

Some tanks, such as those on countertop models, can be cleaned with soap and a sponge, rinsed with a water and vinegar mixture and then water. For handheld flossers, pull the tank out and clean it with a bottle brush, soap and water.

"I also filled it with half water and half white vinegar and ran a full reservoir (in my shower because it sprays everywhere, and then a few cycles with plain water to rinse it out)," Papantoniou added.

The dentists we spoke to say yes! “I always find myself suggesting a water flosser to my patients," Dr. Larbi says. "They're a great addition to conventional flossing. It's a real game-changer for your overall oral homecare routine.”

The dentists we consulted also agreed that people with braces will definitely benefit from a water flosser because the wires make it hard to use traditional floss. Sally Cram, DDS, a practicing periodontist in Washington, D.C., says that water flossers "are very good at flushing out food and debris that gets caught in and around the brackets."

Water flossers are also a great option for elderly people or anyone with manual dexterity problems. "[For these people], wrapping floss around their fingers can be discomforting, especially if they suffer from arthritis," says Adam S. Harwood, D.M.D., an endodontist practicing in New York City. Beyond these examples, however, dentists don't recommend giving up on regular flossing in favor of using a wet flosser.

Not quite, says Dr. Huang: “There's nothing that could replace a manual floss going under the gum. So that's still the gold standard and we should use the water flosser as an adjunct to that. After you floss the bacteria out from the gum, [the water flosser] flushes it out.”

"Both [water flossing and flossing] have their own specific areas of effectiveness, so the ideal dental hygiene program takes advantage of both methods," says Dr. Harwood. Here's a good routine to follow, according to the dentists we spoke with:

1. Brush your teeth first.
2. Then, use traditional string floss to loosen anything stuck between your teeth and keep gums healthy.
3. Finish off with a water flosser to flush it all out.

The bottom line: For most people, water flossing should be done in addition to (not instead of) regular flossing. But if you know that there's no chance you'll actually use regular floss, using a water flosser is better than nothing.