The Best Water Flossers for Healthier Gums and Instant Plaque Removal

Many of us face a bit of a dental hygiene dilemma, even if we won't admit it. We tell ourselves we're doing everything right, we buy the right toothpaste, invested in an electric toothbrush, and even sought out teeth whitening kits to deal with discoloration. But when that hygienist asks if we've been flossing, many of us lie through our teeth.

The American Dental Association recommends cleaning between your teeth daily. But whether because we find flossing to painful, too tedious, or too difficult, too many of us are leaving our gums vulnerable to disease by simply skipping flossing altogether. But there's an alternative to that irksome piece of string we all have in our medicine cabinets: water flossers.

Water flossers help clean between and around your teeth by spraying streams of water in steady pulses. Just like with traditional dental flossing, it's also a great way to remove food from between your teeth. Water flossers also work well at removing plaque from your teeth, so they help prevent tartar, cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease.

The Best Water Flossers

• Best Overall: Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser (WP-660)
• Best for Travel: Panasonic Cordless Dental Water Flosser (EW-DJ10-A)
• Best for Families: H2ofloss HF8P Dental Water Flosser
• Best Cordless: Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser (WP-562)
• Best Flossing Toothbrush: Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0 Professional Flossing Toothbrush
• Most Stylish: Waterpik Sidekick Portable Water Flosser (WF-04)
• Best for Kids: Waterpik Water Flosser for Kids (WP-260)

What to Consider

Water flossers can be a great alternative to traditional floss, especially if you deal with braces, bridges, or have difficulty operating string floss. But before you invest in the first water flosser you find, take into consideration where and how often you'll be using it. The more portable a flosser is, the less water can be held in its reservoir, which can mean shorter total flossing times and more frequent refilling. But the bigger the tank, the more counter space it will consume, so definitely consider your space when selecting a water flosser. It's also important to remember that while water flossers may make the act of flossing easier, it's still up to you to take the initiative to do the flossing, so be sure to select a size, and price point, that most realistically fit your lifestyle.