These Dentist-Recommended Water Flossers Are Essential for Cleaner Gums and a Healthier Smile (2024)

We updated this article in April 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.

There’s nothing like the gleam of bright, white, clean teeth after going to the dentist—though getting that same result daily can be hard to recreate. The good news is that you can boost your oral health and get super-clean feeling teeth at home by using the best water flossers and waterpiks.

A water flosser (a.k.a. oral irrigator) is a health appliance designed for dental care at home. It works by using a targeted stream of water to remove plaque, food particles, and bacteria in a way that’s more comfortable and easier than traditional string floss. However, experts say it isn’t necessarily better to use one over the other. Instead, you should use both tools to properly remove particles from between your teeth and gums, helping to prevent cavities and gum disease.

Meet the experts: Amanda Lewis D.D.S, a cosmetic dentist based in Dallas, Wesam Shafee D.M.D., aesthetic dentist and founder of Smile Care Dental Group in Paramus, NJ.

Water flossers have great benefits for the actual gum tissue, maybe less of a benefit in between the teeth,” says Amanda Lewis D.D.S, a cosmetic dentist based in Dallas. “I find that traditional floss can be used to clean in between the teeth and down at the gum underneath the level where most things can reach. The two together can be very effective around implants—implants have a different contour coming out of the gum tissue,” Dr. Lewis explains.

While you may already be groaning about the amount of dental gadgets your oral hygiene routine involves already, adding a water flosser to your collection of electric toothbrushes or whitening pens will certainly optimize your gum health.

Our top picks

Ready to shop? Ahead, find 10 top-rated dentist-approved water flossers and waterpiks, approved by experts and reviewers alike.

“This is powerful yet gentle on teeth and gums. It helps with deep cleaning,” says Wesam Shafee D.M.D., aesthetic dentist and founder of Smile Care Dental Group in Paramus, NJ. This pick is also a bestseller, with over 71,000 five-star global ratings on Amazon. It works to remove 99.9% of plaque from the teeth, (according to the brand) comes with several flossing tips, and a one-minute timer to help you thoroughly clean all areas inside your mouth.

This cordless pick is designed with a lithium battery that can be charged with a power bank, computer, or car charger. Once it’s been fully charged for four hours, it can last for two weeks, according to the brand. Its features include three operating modes, ranging from normal to pulse. It also comes with five tips for particular uses like a tongue cleaner tip, plaque tip, orthodontic tip, and more. “It helps in plaque reduction and is easy to use,” says Dr. Shafee.

This pick from Dr. Lewis is a must-have for those looking to clean their teeth frequently after eating. It has a unique oxyjet technology that uses water enriched with air microbubbles to help remove plaque bacteria for healthier gums. It also offers three intensity modes, allowing you to choose an intense, medium, or sensitive cleaning pressure.

Another pick from Dr. Lewis, this water flosser will give you an effortless, thorough clean between your teeth and help improve your gum health. Its quad stream technology helps to cover more area within your mouth with less effort, while its unique pulse wave technology works to guide you from tooth to tooth. You can also select between two different cleansing modes—go with the clean mode for a continuous flow of water, or select the deep clean mode to use targeted pulses of water.

Perfect for pedestal sinks, travel, and use in the shower, this next pick from Dr. Lewis is great for people constantly on the go. It’s just as powerful as the countertop version but does not require the daily use of electrical outlets. This water flosser comes with five tips, has a high-volume covered reservoir, a hygienic tip storage compartment, and an advanced pressure control system with 10 settings.

Unlike traditional dental floss, this portable oral irrigator creates rapid, targeted water jets to comfortably and thoroughly help remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria from between the teeth and gums. It’s crafted with a few unique features as well—a collapsible design allows it to fit into tight drawers or small cabinet spaces and in bags while traveling. It also has an easy-to-fill reservoir that holds 5.5 ounces of water, providing up to 40 seconds of water flossing action, according to the brand. One happy Amazon customer writes “...for cleaning my teeth at work after lunch, or for those times when I’m traveling, this Panasonic Oral Irrigator can’t be beat.”

Designed to clean under the gum line and between the teeth, this tool uses magnetics to change the water and remove bacteria living on the surface of the teeth. Its features include a water steam of 1,200 pulses per minute, a water stop button on the handle, and four color-coded tips. One satisfied reviewer writes “our gums are far better because of this machine… You’d be amazed at the gunk that comes out of your teeth while using this.”

Another pick from Dr. Lewis, this new and improved water flosser comes with a bristle tip speed that works twice as fast as the original. The best part? You don’t even have to switch between your toothbrush and flosser, this tool allows you to brush and water floss, saving you time and space. It comes with two patented water flossing brush heads and two brush head covers.

With over 4,700 five-star global ratings on Amazon, you can count on this water flosser to get the job done. It comes with three high-pressure tips and five special-use jet tips (orthodontic, tongue cleaner, periodontal, dental plaque, and a toothbrush tip). But what makes this oral irrigator so different from the rest is its 10 adjustable water pressure settings, making it easy to use for every household member. The brand notes that pressure one through four should be used for kids! One happy Amazon customer writes that this pick “works great to clean gums and between teeth. Mouth feels dentist clean after use.”

Toilet Tree combined two of their best-selling items to create the ultimate dental care combo set. You can keep both your water flosser and sonic toothbrush fully charged up in just one base. The flosser has three mode settings, normal, soft, and pulse. Plus, it includes two color-coded and interchangeable tips for multiple members in your household. One happy Walmart customer writes “I love this toothbrush and irrigator. Everything you need for excellent oral healthcare is in one easy holder.”

We consulted dental hygiene experts like Amanda Lewis D.D.S, a cosmetic dentist based in Dallas, and Wesam Shafee D.M.D., aesthetic dentist and founder of Smile Care Dental Group in Paramus, NJ. We also pored through countless online reviews from verified customers to find the best water flossers and waterpiks available.

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.