“I often recommend water flossers for my patients who struggle with regular flossing due to limited dexterity, arthritis, dental implants, braces, bridges, or any physical disabilities that prevent them from flossing,” says Dr. Sandip Sachar, an NYC-based dentist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. 

“My favorite flosser is the Waterpik Aquarius water flosser,” Dr. Sachar says. “It is effective and not too noisy.” 

It even has a timer and pacer that pauses briefly at 30 seconds, making it easier to track flossing times. “The only issue is that it takes up quite a bit of counter space,” Sachar says. 

But, that tradeoff might be worth it for some who can spare the square inches. 

“I personally prefer the counter version because the water tank is larger and I can sufficiently clean my mouth without having to refill,” says Dr. Thomas Dobie of Dobie Revolution Orthodontics.

“The Waterpik Complete Care water flosser and sonic electric toothbrush has been amazing for our patients,” says Dr. Jennifer Chiang, family and cosmetic dentist at Sunnyvale Pediatric Dentist in Silicon Valley, California. 

She points to the design of the flosser and toothbrush, which makes them easier to hold and adjust so users can hit all the right spots along the gumline and between the teeth without having to worry too much about technique.

The model “is worth the counter real estate” since its corded status allows it to have a more powerful motor than cordless water flossers, Dr. Chiang says. 

“The best water flosser is the Viajet Ozone Oral Irrigator by Oratec,” says Dr. Lousia Correa, known on Instagram as “The Queen of Smiles.”

She loves that the pick’s angle makes it easy to clean where your gums need it most” along the gumline and just below it. “Once you feel where the water jet should be to best clean, it is easy to consistently get the position and benefits,” she says.

Plus, it comes with a range of pressures, which is perfect for beginners.

“This oral irrigator has control over the intensity of the flow, allowing you to start lower when gum tissue is flabby and inflamed and gradually increasing the jet as gum tissue becomes healthy and strong,” Dr. Correa says, making it an approachable option for those starting out and those with sensitive gums and even those with sensitive gums.

Some people don’t love the idea of water flossers since they can get a little messy to use (operation generally requires your mouth staying open and water dribbling out). “The mess generated from other water flossers discouraged me from using them,” says Chicago-based cosmetic dentist Dr. Jen Moran-Kobes. 

This is where cordless flossers come in. Philips Sonicare 3000’s water flosser design makes it easy to get in every nook and cranny sans the splatter since it can be taken in the shower. 

“I mostly like that I can use this in the shower,” says Moran-Kobes. “I fill it with warm water and a splash of Therabreath mouthwash and in one minute in the shower, all my interproximal areas are clean.” 

The compact size, the intensity options, multiple head choices, and long battery charge all make this a valuable adjunct to my oral health routine.

“This is the one I bought for my daughter and would be fine for adults too,” says dentist Jonathan Neman of Neman Family Dentistry in Great Neck, NY. “It’s cheaper than the rest, and it does the same job. But more importantly, it has a rechargeable battery, a good-size water tank so you aren’t constantly refilling it, and it includes many different heads so you can see what is most comfortable.”

“I prefer the Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 water flosser due to its compact design, which allows it to remain conveniently on the countertop without occupying excessive space,” says Dr. Lena Varone, a cosmetic dentist at New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry who talks all things cosmetic dentistry at @drlenavarone.

Added bonus? “This model is also easily portable, making it ideal for travel,” she says. 

Plus, if you’re working on getting into a water-flossing habit, leaving this unobtrusive model out on your counter could be the visible reminder you need to pick up the pick.

“I find that larger water flossers, when stored away, are used less consistently,” says Varone.  

If you’re just starting out or have sensitive gums, Varone likes that this one has a wide range of water pressures to help your gums get healthy.

“I love that it offers three pressure settings that range from gentle to strong, which allows for a more customized experience,” says Varone. It’s especially good for people with sensitive gums or for areas that require increased pressure to clean more effectively, she adds.