Best water flossers and Waterpiks for cleaner, healthier teeth and gums

This was the priciest water flosser we tested but we really noticed the difference. The relatively slim handle meant it was also one of the easiest to use, even though it still had a fairly decent 250ml reservoir, which lasted around a minute before needing an easy refill.

Once we got the hang of flossing, this was almost enough time to manage our whole mouth, thanks to a nozzle that rotates 360 degrees and pulse wave technology that guides the device from tooth to tooth in Deep Clean mode. When using the quad stream nozzle, we could finish cleaning even faster as the flow is separated into four water jets, which cover more surface area between teeth in less time. Just keep your mouth closed while you do it or you’ll get an unexpected soaking.

There are three intensity settings and two flossing modes and even the standard clean mode left our mouth feeling super fresh, visibly dislodging any food particles trapped between teeth. The device comes with a travel bag, power adaptor and a USB charging cable, so, you won’t be able to charge it in your bathroom, but our battery showed no sign of fading even after nearly two weeks of daily use.

Our one grumble is that, for the price, we would’ve loved a tongue scraper included as well as the quad stream and standard nozzle. Still, our mouth has never felt cleaner.

Space is always tight in a bathroom cupboard so it makes sense to choose the most compact water flosser you can find. Developed by dentists Dr Lisa and Dr Vanessa Creaven, this dinky device was one of the smallest and most portable we tested, and is cordless and rechargeable just like an electric toothbrush making it one of the few flossers small enough to take on holiday.

Its water tank is fairly easy to fill and has a 190ml capacity, but we did have to refill this more than once during cleaning. There are three operating modes – normal, soft and pulse – which is useful so you can build up from the gentlest setting when you first start using it. We especially liked the 360 degree rotating nozzle which really made us feel like we were getting into every nook and cranny, and our mouth felt sparkling clean afterwards.

The device also comes with four different tips, so you can really adapt this flosser for your needs, and these include a classic jet tip, an orthodontic spray tip, a periodontal pocket sprinkler and even a tongue scraper for a full mouth makeover.

Waterpik are the world’s best-selling water flosser brand and therefore know a thing or two about keeping your teeth clean. The brand claims that its flossers are scientifically proven to be more than 50 per cent effective than traditional dental floss for improving gum health and remove up to 99.9 per cent of plaque from treated areas.

This cordless and rechargeable flosser certainly feels like it’s getting the job done. It has a 360 degree rotating head and four tips – classic jet, orthodontic tip, plaque seeker tip and tongue cleaner. There are just two pressure controls but the lowest setting is perfect for sensitive gums or those trying water flossing for the first time, without being too weedy. The non-slip grip makes it easy to hold when wet and it’s straightforward to operate without too many gizmos to complicate matters.

Our only grumble is the 210ml water capacity needs refilling around every 45 seconds, but we liked the fact this kept the flosser compact. You can even add a small amount of mouthwash to the water for minty freshness, making this an all-around great buy for anyone new to water flossing.

This whitening water flosser delivers a double whammy when it comes to keeping your teeth and gums in tip-top condition. As well as water flossing, this clever device whitens as it works, with Waterpik claiming it removes an additional 25 per cent of stains versus brushing alone.

Simply pop one of the included fresh mint whitening tablets into the flip-top tablet compartment and floss as normal – we definitely thought our teeth looked a little brighter after a couple of weeks of use. When the initial supply of 30 tablets runs out, it can then be used as an ordinary water flosser although replacement tablets can be bought whenever you need a whitening boost.

It’s an excellent flosser even without the additional tablets with a choice of 10 pressure settings – though start low if you’re new to water flossing as the higher ones are quite forceful. It comes with four tips, including two jet tips, so it could even be shared between a couple, if needed. That’s handy, as the separate reservoir – attached by a cord to the device – does take up quite a bit of space on a bathroom shelf, although, this means the water lasts for a whole flossing session, without needing to be refilled. It’s definitely not one you’ll be able to travel with, though.

Our teeth felt so clean after using this Panasonic flosser just once that we’re certain we beamed at everyone we met. The Ultrasonic technology works a treat, with increased water jet speed that generates water vapour bubbles on the surface of the teeth, to amp up the cleaning power. This also helps clean sensitive periodontal pockets to target plaque left after brushing and gently stimulates gums for an all-around healthier mouth. It can be used on orthodontic braces and bridges, too.

The device doesn’t feel too hulking to manoeuvre when it’s in the mouth, either. The slimmer top half of the cordless flosser makes it comfortable to hold, although, it still has a decent 200ml water tank. This lasts around 60 seconds on the level five water pressure setting but we did need to refill once during cleaning. Otherwise, it’s a fuss-free addition to any nightly routine as it charges in just one hour and remembers your last chosen water flow strength, so it is ready to go whenever you are.

Not sure you’ll stick to water flossing? Give it a go without blowing the budget by trying this fantastically priced flosser from Fairywill and, even if you don’t keep it up, at least you’ll have a decent new toothbrush.

However, we were suitably impressed with the results from the flosser for the price. Though it’s fairly chunky to hold, it comes with a large 300ml capacity water tank for uninterrupted use, and three operational modes with LED indication, including a massage mode. Impressively, four classic tips – and four replacement toothbrush heads – are included in the box, although, anyone with braces or a lot of dental work would be better off choosing a flosser that comes with alternative heads.

Also, be aware that both the toothbrush and flosser are charged with the included USB cable rather than a traditional shaving socket, so, both will need to be charged outside the bathroom.