Skip to main content

BlissMark may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Why you need a water flosser on your bathroom counter

Taking good care of your teeth is one of the best things you can do for your overall health — and that means both brushing and flossing. Poor oral hygiene can lead to bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, low self-esteem, and, in severe cases, gum disease.

Multiple experts and organizations, including the U.S. Surgeon General, the CDC, and the American Dental Association (ADA), recommend using dental floss  — or another device — to clean between your teeth. If you can’t seem to find a floss that works for you or have extremely sensitive teeth or gums, investing in a power flosser or water flosser may be the answer you are looking for.

Related Videos
Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

What is water flossing?

A water pick or water flosser is a hand-held device that streams water directly at your teeth in order to clean them. This type of flossing removes food particles from your teeth and helps reduce plaque. Plaque can form over time and turn into tartar, leading to cavities and gum disease. While it doesn’t get deep in between your teeth the same way traditional flossing does, it’s a popular choice if you wear braces or have a dental implant, retainer, or non-removable bridgework implanted.

Water flossers come with different tips for tackling unique dental challenges, like orthodontic tips for braces, implant denture tips, and tongue tips to help keep your tongue clean and bacteria-free.

MilanMarkovic78/Shutterstock

The best water flossers on the market?

Not all water flossers are equal. These are our favorites.

Waterpik

The Waterpik is the first in its class to get the seal of approval from the American Dental Association. “This product was shown to reduce plaque and gingivitis in areas between the teeth, often the most difficult areas for patients to effectively clean,” said Dr. John Dmytryk, chair of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs’ Seal Subcommittee. “By granting the ADA Seal of Acceptance to the Waterpik Water Flosser, consumers for whom these devices are appropriate can be confident that they can be a safe and effective component of their daily oral care when used as directed.”

Buy Now

Mospro

The Mospro water flosser is $20 cheaper than the Waterpik, coming in at $40 on Amazon. With over 40,000 reviews, it gets high marks for its removable “full-opening water tank.” This allows you to thoroughly “clean the limescale and dental plaque, which is impossible for common oral irrigators.” It’s also cordless and lightweight, so it’s easily maneuvered.

Buy Now

Philips Sonicare AirFloss

This is another cordless option that, when fully charged, can last up to three weeks. This model can be filled with water or mouthwash and can clean your entire mouth in under 30 seconds. It’s $49.95 on Amazon and is ADA-approved. 

Buy Now

Added perks

Some water flossers like the Waterpik have units built for unique purposes. For instance, they have a whitening unit that is meant to restore the natural whiteness of your teeth by removing hard-to-reach stains. While many come attached to the water tank, there are cordless versions that you can use while traveling, in the shower, and if you don’t have a lot of counter space.

As water flossers have increased in popularity and more and more have the ADA seal of approval, there are a lot of choices on the market. If you’re unsure which one is right for your unique needs, you should consult with your dentist or dental hygienist, and they can help you decide on the right option for you.

Regular brushing and flossing (be it string or water) helps you stay healthy and lets you skip unneeded trips to the dentist. If you find yourself skipping traditional flossing because it’s too time-consuming or if you experience your gums bleeding, a water flosser may be a good option to try. The bottom line is that you want to develop a routine you can stick to consistently.

In addition to proper tooth care, it’s always best to avoid hard candies, sugar-filled gum, cola, juice, and smoking — all of which can damage tooth enamel and cause cavities. If you can’t brush your teeth after every meal (which is what most dentists recommend), try swishing water around in your mouth to get as many food particles out from in between your teeth until you are able to brush or floss.

Editors' Recommendations

Beauty products for your personal needs
the best face oil for glowing skin

Sometimes it is hard for people to dedicate time to pamper their bodies. Sometimes showering and taking a bath is not enough to keep your body pampered. It requires time and effort. Such as waxing your legs, clipping your nails, and cleaning your teeth. Do you know that plaque can build up around your teeth? Do you also know that your nails can grow in, which usually happens with your toes? The body does not only need to bathe but to keep the nails and teeth well kept. It is also great for the face to wash it daily and moisturize it daily.

You need certain items to pamper your body, and it keeps well-kept besides bathing it. Sometimes your skin needs to heal or be moisturized. Your nails need to be cut constantly to avoid any possibilities of usually a painful ingrown toenail or ingrown fingernail. It is the same way how to handle your teeth with extra care. There is something called plaque that builds up around your teeth. Plaque can give you the possibility of bleeding gums and tooth decay, which results in a toothache. Dental flaws and a dental tool that removes plaque will help you prevent having gum diseases and tooth decay.

Read more
Tools to take care of your nails
White painted nails with a coffee and leaves in the background.

Your nails tell you how healthy your body is. You want to make sure to clip your fingernails and toenails to prevent issues with ingrown nails or bacteria getting underneath your nails. When it comes to your toenails, it is easy to forget to cut them. It is also easy to get fungi within your nail, which can be just as painful as an ingrown toenail. Some items can help you take care of your nails and accomplish your manicure goals. Some items can help you get rid of the ingrown toenail that can be painful for you to walk on.

You are a busy person, and it is hard to take care of yourself. It is even for you to have time to clip your fingernails and toenails. You want to dedicate a day that focuses on you. You want to dedicate a day to wearing face masks, pedicures, manicures, and bubble baths. You could be someone who suffers from an ingrown toenail. Do you know that there are tools for you to get rid of that ingrown toenail? You can get the items to remove your ingrown toenail and no longer have to deal with the constant pain anymore.

Read more
Beauty items for your eyebrows
black beauty brands

Many people have their idea of beauty when comes to hair. Some people prefer facial hair, bushy eyebrows, and thin eyebrows. You are one of the people who prefer not to have the few thick strands of hair on your chin. You might feel a bit uncomfortable seeing a unibrow slowly forming. You tried everything to get rid of your random thick chin hairs and shape your eyebrows. You tried hair removal cream, you tried wax strips, and you even tried an electric razor. None of these three items worked out for you. That is why tweezers are for you.

The five items listed above are the five types of tweezers. You have sensitive skin that makes it hard to find the perfect thing to reshape your eyebrows or remove hair from your face. The hair remover cream leaves a burn on your face, and it did not remove the hair. You tried wax strips, but it just left your skin with a sting. That is why tweezers are guaranteed to pluck away those stubborn hairs. You can have control how your eyebrow looks and reshape it whatever style seems to fit you. The tweezers are perfect for people with sensitive skin.

Read more