We updated this guide in January 2023 to ensure the information reflected current prices, features and more. Our top picks, based on testing notes from the Good Housekeeping Institute, remain the same.

Like a gentle power washer for your mouth, the best water flossers leave your teeth with that super-clean, just-left-the-dentist-feeling. While anyone who wants to go the extra mile with oral care can benefit from using a water flosser, people with braces and dental implants may find them especially useful. So how exactly do water flossers work? "Water flossers use a pressurized stream of water, in many cases a pulsating stream, to remove food particles and plaque stuck between teeth and along the gum line," says Adam S. Harwood, DMD, a New York City-based endodontist. While water flossers, also known as oral irrigators, are not meant to be a replacement for using traditional floss, they are a great way to clear out any extra debris left behind (and easier to navigate between teeth).

To find the most reliable water flossers you can buy, the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab put 12 of the most popular models on the market to the test, evaluating their ease of use, performance and overall satisfaction. Our partner lab Quiet Mark rated the noisiness of each model. We also sent water flossers to 119 consumer testers, who each used their flosser every day for at least one week. After gathering nearly 2,000 consumer survey responses and evaluating our own in-Lab testing data, we narrowed down the options to this list of the best water flossers of 2023, including the best models from Waterpik.

Our top picks:

Read more about our picks below, and find answers to all your questions about how to use water flossers according to dental professionals at the end of this guide. Looking for more ways to up your dental care game? Check out our roundups of the best electric toothbrushes and the best natural toothpastes, as well as the best teeth-whitening kits.

Philips Sonicare

amazon.com

$139.99

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This is a water flosser that does it all: Receiving top marks across the board for its mess-free deep cleaning, ease of use and quietness, the Philips Sonicare water flosser rated 96% in overall satisfaction among our consumer testers, with one even describing it as their "all-time favorite" product throughout 20 years of using water flossers.

Its four water stream settings (clean, deep clean, sensitive and massage) and auto-timer setting allow you to really get into your gums for a through clean. "With my old flosser, I think I moved too fast between my teeth to do an effective job," said one tester. "I feel like I have now completely re-learned the correct way to use water flossers."

Featuring the longest hose among the models we tested, the almost four-foot long retractable cord and magnetic handle make it easier to navigate your mouth (not to mention store away when not in use). Reservoir fills are easy thanks to a flip lid. Plus, if you value counter space, testers said they preferred this model's sleek design to other clunkier versions they've tried in the past.

Waterpik

bestbuy.com

$89.99

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Lightweight and simple to use, the Waterpik ION countertop model couples most of the bells and whistles you'd find in a more expensive water flosser, but at a lower price point. With an impressive 3-star Quiet Mark score, we found it to be one of the quietest water flossers we tested. It also 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 six 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."

Waterpik

amazon.com

$73.89

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With an average 4.7-star rating across nearly 104K+ (!) reviews, Waterpik's Aquarius model has earned its spot as one of the best-selling water flossers on Amazon. "After every use, my mouth feels like it was cleaned by a dental hygienist" raved one reviewer. 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. It also features a separate mode that pulses water to massage your gums.

It comes with seven tips that serve different purposes: three classic, one for plaque, one for braces, one for periodontal pockets and one with a toothbrush head. Bonus: It's available in a bunch of fun colors, like deep purple and navy blue — since it's going to stay on your countertop, the more color options, the better, we say.

Smile Direct Club

smiledirectclub.com

$40.00

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Upgrade your floss game with a water flosser that even novice users can enjoy. Smile Direct Club's handheld teeth cleaner rated highest in our ease of use tests for its easy-to-follow manual, and at just $32, our testers enjoyed its cordless capabilities, especially since you can use it in the shower. It rated 98% in overall satisfaction for cleaning in between teeth better than traditional string floss. The well-sized cordless water tank also requires fewer refills than comparably sized models.

Holding a stronger charge and stream than one tester's current flosser, they said it "felt good on my gums" and "made me feel that I was doing something better for my oral health than I was previously doing."

Waterpik

amazon.com

$26.49

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At under $40, Waterpik's cordless model is significantly cheaper than many other water flossers on the market. For that reason, it's a great choice for anyone who's curious but hesitant about trying an oral irrigator.

Despite its lower price, this space-saving model packs in water pressure 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 misplacing a charger. 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.

Smile Direct Club

smiledirectclub.com

$40.00

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You can fit this battery-powered water flosser onto even the smallest of countertops, but don't be deceived: testers noted you don't have to sacrifice strength for size with this pick. It offers "lots of power for a compact size," one tester said. The model collapses down to five inches for easy travel and storage and pops back up to double the size. Beyond its convenient compact design, it also makes a great pick for beginners, thanks to its easy-to-follow manual and it comes with normal, soft and pulse settings. "The water pressure was perfect for getting between my teeth without irritating my gums or nerves," another tester noted.