It's no secret brushing your teeth twice a day is key for good oral hygiene, but what about flossing? According to the Cleveland Clinic, in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums, we should be flossing once a day. If you find flossing your teeth to be icky and uncomfortable, water flossers are a great alternative.
"A water flosser is a handheld device that propels a stream of water through a tip to help flush out food, debris, plaque and bacteria from between the teeth and around the gum line," explains Dr. Samantha Rawdin, a board-certified prosthodontist.
We spoke with Rawdin, as well as a cosmetic and restorative dentist, to learn the many oral health benefits of water flossers and which ones to buy. Keep scrolling for our comprehensive list of expert-recommended and editor-tested water flossers — starting at under $20.
Note: If you aren't currently flossing regularly, toothday's the day!
The best water flossers, according to experts and tested by editors
"The brand sent me this cordless water flosser a few months ago and it immediately replaced my bulkier water flosser," shares associate editor Kamari Stewart. "I love that it’s cordless, easy to refill and the battery lasts a long time. My other water flosser was just taking up space on my counter and I never used it because of how annoying it was," she continues.
"I now use this one several times a week. It has several settings (I usually keep it to the gentlest clean setting because my gums are sensitive), but it’s easy to maneuver and lightweight. Plus, it takes up so little space on my counter. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to any other water flosser after using this one," Stewart says.
"I have been wanting to improve my oral health and have tried a variety of tools but was always curious about a water flosser," shares commerce editor Vivien Moon. "I finally got my hands on one that didn’t have a cord (I tried one with a cord before and it was so difficult to work with) and I’ve fallen in love with it. Because it’s rechargeable, I don't have to worry about batteries, it’s also slim so it fits well in my small bathroom where sink space is limited," she explains.
I love that it has a couple of options for how you can floss with it since I don't love it just going on its own, I can control as I navigate it," Moon says.
Rawdin recommends this powerful water flosser from Boka that features three pressure settings. “It’s cordless (so can be used in the shower to cut down on the mess it leaves all over the sink!) [and] small enough to throw in a travel bag,” she explains. “And I like the tongue scraper attachment it comes with.”
Dr. Richard M. Lipari, a dentist specializing in cosmetic, restorative and implant dentistry, loves this lightweight flossing device because it has control over how much water pressure the respective water flossers utilize. "The usmile has different tips for different uses, and for patients in braces, their orthodontic-specific tips are great," he explains. "I think that the water in a water flosser should be changed regularly, and the small reservoir for water helps guarantee that the water is changed regularly."
Dr. Naomi Goldman, a cosmetic and restorative dentist, is a big fan of this Sonicare flosser because of the divided stream that goes in four different directions. Available in three unique colors, this power flosser features a 14-day battery life and can even be used in the shower.
I like this because of the ability to adjust the intensity of the water stream and the larger water tank so you don’t need to refill it constantly," shares Rawdin. "However, it is on the larger side and requires adequate counter space," she advises.
SEO commerce editor Jess Bender has owned this water flosser for over a year now and swears by it. "It comes with 10 modes of intensity, plus a massage option for stimulating my gums, plus seven floss heads that serve different purposes," she says. "Over time with regular use, I’ve noticed my gums becoming less sensitive and have overall less plaque buildup versus my experience with other water flossers," Bender notes.
Lipari also recommends Waterpik's Cordless Advanced 2.0 Water Flosser which is available on the brand's website for under $100.
How to use a water flosser
If you’ve never used a water flosser or simply need a refresher, we have you covered. “To use the water flosser, you want to hold the tip at a 45-degree angle towards the gums and follow the scalloping along the gum line, lingering for a second or two on the areas between the teeth,” recommends Rawdin.
“First do this on the outside (cheek side) of the teeth, then the inside (tongue side),” she explains. “This takes some practice, and you’ll make a mess of your bathroom sink and mirror the first few times you use it, says Rawdin.
Once more comfortable, with the device Rawdin advises users to try to close your lips around the flosser to minimize the water spray. “It can be done before or after brushing, but I personally like to use it before so that I can brush away any debris or plaque that got pushed out from between the teeth,” she shares.
What are the oral health benefits of using a water flosser?
The good news is using a water flosser leads to many oral hygiene benefits. "The water flosser does a great job massaging the gum tissue which helps keep it healthy," says Goldman.
Rawdin also explains, "Some of the benefits of a water flosser are reduced plaque and debris accumulation, the ability to clean around oral appliances or restorations such as bridges, implants or braces and increased ease of use — especially for people with dexterity issues that prohibits them from being able to use string floss effectively."
"All of these combined benefits help to reduce inflammation in the gums (called gingivitis) and can lead to improved oral health overall," she states.
Rawdin also makes note that when she is recommending water flossers to patients, she likes it as an "adjunct" to traditional flossing.
"To me, string floss will always be the gold standard because that is the only way you can mechanically scrape away plaque in the areas where the teeth actually touch," she notes.
Frequently asked questions
If you're wondering if you should get a cordless water flosser, it depends on your personal preference. "Cordless ones tend to be smaller and take up less space on the counter, but you have to fill the tank more often because its much smaller," explains Goldman.
If you're a beginner, Goldman suggests starting low at two to three and working your way up every few days "so you don’t injure the tissue before it’s healthy enough to handle the extra pressure."
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How we chose the best water flossers
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best water flossers for oral health by enlisting the recommendations of a board-certified prosthodontist and two dentists. We also asked our editors to share their tried-and-true favorite products.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on water flossers. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Samantha Rawdin is a board-certified prosthodontist in New York, New York.
- Dr. Naomi Goldman is a cosmetic and restorative dentist as well as the owner of Levy Goldman Dentistry in Peabody, Massachusetts.
- Dr. Richard M. Lipari, DDS is a dentist specializing in cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry at Lipari and Mangiameli Dentistry in Chappaqua, New York.
