A water flosser, also known as an oral irrigator or by the popular brand name Waterpik, is a convenient, fun-to-use alternative to dental floss. Water flossers work by shooting a concentrated stream of water along your gum line to remove plaque and bacteria—and like traditional flossing, using one can be useful for maintaining dental hygiene. I thoroughly researched water flossers, then lead a three-person testing panel (which included myself) to use each model twice a day for a week. Altogether, we tested 13 water flossers including cordless, travel and countertop models, and narrowed our list to five winners across several categories. Our number one pick, the , reigns as the best water flosser of 2026 thanks to its simple, user-friendly design.
We named the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser the best water flosser overall thanks to its reliable flossing action, versatile design and great value. It carries the (not all flossers do), comes with a three-year warranty and has been our top pick for years. This flosser includes seven tips—tied for the most, of the water flossers we tested—so you can customize how you floss. It has 10 pressure settings as well as two flossing modes, a pulsing “massage” mode and a continuous stream for applied pressure. Its design is more streamlined than the similar (our pick for the best value option), with an improved on/off button, an additional flossing mode and a smaller footprint.
Straightforward And Effective, Even At Lower Pressure Settings
During testing, we found that this flosser was simple to use and effective at removing gunk from our teeth. Tips matter with water flossers: Since you’re directing a powerful stream of water, you want to be able to guide the device along your gums so you don’t inadvertently soak yourself or blast your bathroom mirror. The Aquarius’ soft Plaque Seeker tip, which is capped with fine bristles, let us push the flosser right up against our gumlines to steadily guide the flow of water. For those with braces or other orthodontia, this tip might also be helpful for getting into the grooves of hardware. Pressure settings are key to account for gum sensitivity as well; the lower settings on the Aquarius were strong enough to dislodge debris while also being gentle on gums.
A Spacious, Easy-To-Clean Water Reservoir
While cordless water flossers are convenient and quieter than their corded counterparts, there are several advantages to using the latter. First, the corded appliances can hold more water. The Waterpik Aquarius has a capacity of 22 fluid ounces, making it the largest water tank we tested (tied with the Waterpik Ultra). The reservoir has a wide opening and is easy to remove for cleaning or filling; the lid is also attached to the base of the flosser, so there’s less reassembly involved. Second, corded flossers give you more control while flossing. The handles on corded water flossers allow you to turn the stream on or off, whereas with most cordless flossers, water shoots out when you turn them on. The Waterpik Aquarius also has a handy timer to alert you at 30-second and one-minute marks, so you know to move the flosser to other parts of your mouth for a deep clean.
Somewhat Loud And Lacks Tip Storage
The Aquarius is undeniably loud, as were all water flossers we tested (the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000 is a bit quieter). This Waterpik model also lacks tip storage for all the included tips, though it has room for 2; if that matters to you, go for the Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser.
For A Post-Dentist Clean Feeling
Forbes Vetted editorial director Brinda Ayer has been using the Aquarius for the past year. “This sounds trite, but it really gives me that just-went-to-the-dentist feeling every time I use it,” she says. “It’s extremely user-friendly, comes with many different interchangeable water-flossing tips and pressure levels for different dental care needs, and feels gentler on my gums than traditional flossing. ” Like all water flossers, it requires refilling—but Ayer refills hers about once every week and a half because of the roomy reservoir. Minimal downsides to this generous size include that the flosser looks a little bulky on a counter.
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Throughout years of testing, we’ve found that most corded water flossers are similarly designed and do a comparable job of cleaning your teeth. They have another commonality: They’re aggravatingly loud. The Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000 stands out for being noticeably quieter than the Waterpik models we’ve tested. This is especially true on lower pressure settings. If you’re sensitive to noise, particularly in a small, echoey space like a bathroom, the Philips might be your best bet.
10 Pressure Settings For A Customizable Cleaning
The Quad Stream tip that comes with this Philips water flosser is also effective, spraying water in a flared rotation, and the flexible rubber makes it easy to hold the nozzle near gums. The Philips lacks a rotating tip head (though you’ll see this on the product page, we didn’t find it to be true in testing), which may make it harder to get into the nooks and crannies of your mouth. Otherwise, it’s simple to use. There are 10 pressure settings and two cleaning modes, just like the Waterpik Aquarius, as well as a 30-second timer on the “clean” mode.
Smaller Tank With No Attached Lid
This tank, while easy to fill, doesn’t have an attached lid like the Aquarius. It’s slightly smaller than the Aquarius’ tank as well, and it comes with fewer tips. These trade-offs may be worth it, however, for some added peace during your oral hygiene routine. The Philips also has the
Gentle But Effective Cleaning
Forbes Vetted general manager Cory Baldwin calls this water flosser a life-saver for keeping teeth clean, especially ones that have shifted. “It helps me keep those tricky spots feeling clean and comfortable,” she says. “I love that the cost was not prohibitive but the tool still provides great power and a few floss tip options.”
The Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 Water Flosser is our pick for best portable water flosser based on our tests because of its next-level ergonomic design and features. This portable model is ideal for travel, or if you’re just looking for a more compact option. It’s also the only waterproof cordless model we tested. That means you can use it in the shower, which may be more convenient or appealing for you. (Since water flossing involves letting water run from the nozzle through your open mouth, it can get messy. Dr. Erinne Kennedy, an ADA spokesperson, also recommends using a flosser in the shower as a way to work it into your routine.)
Ergonomic Handle That’s Comfortable To Hold
The Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 was uniquely ergonomic compared to other cordless flossers we tested. Its handle is contoured to make it easier to hold on to, and the surface has a raised and textured design to make the device less slippery when wet. A large, notched wheel along the base of the tip allows you to rotate the nozzle easily for better aim. This flosser was the most comfortable to hold and use in our tests. You can turn the tip and use your thumb to push the power button, allowing you a little more control over your spraying. Unlike with a corded flosser, the power button starts the flossing immediately; you can select the mode before turning it on.
Includes Useful Extras Like Travel Accessories And Magnetic Charger
The Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 has several other features that helped it stand out as a winner compared to the other cordless water flossers we tried: including three cleaning modes, travel-ready accessories like a case for extra tips and a soft carrying bag, and a unique magnetic charger that attaches to the front of the flosser, so water won’t pool at the base. The Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 also has the .
Reservoir Isn’t Easily Removable
The main downside to the Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 is that the reservoir is difficult to remove, requiring some force to pop it off for cleaning. Since the rest of the flosser seems geared toward ergonomics and ease of use, this feature was disappointing. This flosser also didn’t have as strong of a stream as others we tested. If you’re looking for a more powerful portable flosser, we recommend the Quip Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser.
Seamlessly Works Into A Dental Routine
I have been using the Waterpik Cordless for the past 6 months. I find it simple to work into my nighttime toothbrushing routine, and especially appreciate that I’m not tied to a cord. This flosser is easy to maneuver and use, making it more enticing to reach for.
The Quip Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser is an appealing option if you want a basic portable water flosser that will also look nice on your bathroom counter. This model is extremely simple—it’s essentially a smooth cylinder, of which half is a refillable water tank—with just two modes and a basic plastic tip. It didn’t do well for sensitive gums in our tests, and the handle isn’t ergonomic. Because of its simplicity, though, it’s less fiddly to use, making it easy to transport if you just need a basic flosser. If looks matter to you, this was also the most attractive flosser we tried.
Not Ideal For Those With Sensitive Gums
The Quip is effective: Its two modes are powerful, and the angled tip works to get into crevices. But there’s no fine-tuning with this model. The tip is difficult to rotate, unlike other portable water flossers we tested, and the device lacks softer tips and lower modes to help with sensitivity.
Aesthetically Pleasing, Sleek Design
The Quip stands out for its smooth design, and your preferences will determine if that’s a good thing: No buttons or knobs protrude on the Quip, and the handle isn’t indented or textured to improve grip. The charger nests in the bottom of the base and plugs into the same USB brick that you likely use to charge many of your other devices, which makes it easy to throw into a suitcase or bag. You can store the tip in the reservoir, too, which is a nice perk. We tested the copper version of this flosser, and the matte metallic sheen made the device actually seem cute and appealing—a high bar for something called an oral irrigator. (It also comes in a more affordable , with the same design.) Since the most effective water flosser is ultimately the one you’ll use, if you’re motivated by the Quip’s design, this one might be best for you.
The Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser is often available at a lower price than our top pick, the Waterpik Aquarius, and it offers more tip storage than the Aquarius. While the Ultra is a little clunkier to use, with a lid that isn’t attached to the base and a more awkward on/off button, the models are similarly effective. The Ultra has 10 cleaning modes, includes a large 22-ounce reservoir and comes with six tips.
Great For Sharing With Household Members
Like the , the Ultra is ADA-approved. It is just as loud as the Aquarius, but that’s par for the course with these devices. The key feature on the Ultra is the tip storage, housed within the lid like a roof rack. Tips snap into place and stay put. If you have multiple people in your household who want to use a flosser, this model will serve you well.
Other Water Flossers We Tested
In addition to the five winning models above, we tested eight other water flossers that didn’t make the cut. We would still recommend the first three models below for certain users, despite not quite matching the performance quality of our top picks; the rest didn’t stand out, for the reasons noted.
Water Flossers Worth Considering
- Best For People With Hardware: : This flosser comes with Philips’ flexible Quad Stream tip, which we found beneficial for sensitive gums or people with hardware. We preferred the Waterpik for its ergonomic and waterproof design, but if you’re keen on this tip or want more powerful pressure, this Philips model is a great choice.
- Best Customizable Water Pressure: : The customizable nozzles on this model stood out: You can adjust the stream with a tab on the tip itself, and the pointed tips allow for great direction and aim. This model wasn’t as easy to use as the Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0, though. Adjusting the tips was also finicky.
- Best Value Cordless Water Flosser: : This flosser is a decent, affordable cordless option. While testing, we found that these water flossers have only a single small port to fill their reservoirs, however, making them hard to fill.
Water Flossers We Don't Recommend
- : This flosser was so overwhelmingly loud in our tests that we dismissed it.
- : We like that you can invert the reservoir and use it as a cover for the base, which is an intriguing design element. But when you use it normally, there’s no cover for the top of the reservoir, which seemed like an unhygienic feature.
- : This portable flosser collapses into its own reservoir for easy transportation. But we found it difficult to open and close in testing, and it’s challenging to stow the flosser’s tip in the designated cavity.
- We were impressed that this held enough water for more than a minute of use (more than most portable models), even on high power, but the opaque reservoir means you never know quite how much water is left until you run out.
- : This model combines a water flosser with an electric toothbrush, but the sum of the parts isn’t enough to override the shortcomings of each component. In our tests, the toothbrush didn’t compare to the cleaning experience achieved with other electric toothbrushes, and the water flosser’s performance wasn’t outstanding, either.
How We Tested The Best Water Flossers
To test the best water flossers, we focused on the features that made them effective and easy to use on a daily basis. We continued testing top picks over time and added notes as well.
Process
- Research: I thoroughly researched water flossers to arrive at my list of 13 models deserving of hands-on testing.
- Testing panel: In addition to myself, I recruited two Forbes Vetted staff members to assist me in testing water flosser models.
- Evaluation: We used each model twice a day for a week, taking thorough notes to evaluate our picks based on the below criteria. In later iterations of this story, we also added longterm testing updates up to two years following the formal testing process.
Criteria
- Ease of use: We evaluated how easy the water flosser was to hold and refill as well as how loud it was. We also took note of pressure settings and different tip options, assessing how many each flosser offered, plus how each felt to use. In addition, we considered how easy it was to hold a flosser’s handle, remove its reservoir and adjust its tip. When assessing ease of use, we also considered button size, handle design and how easy it was to refill reservoirs.
- Effectiveness: While water flossers may use different actions, typically they pulsate, which “helps generate enough pressure and movement to disrupt that really sticky plaque that’s on top of your teeth,” says Kennedy. We used different pressure levels and intensities to see how well they removed gunk from our teeth. We also considered the reservoir capacity: Did a flosser offer enough water to clean our mouths? Lastly, we assessed different tip styles and water streams to see how they felt.
- Extra Features: There were several nice-to-have features we also considered. These included swiveling tips, which are handy if you want to angle the water stream a specific way based on how you hold the flosser. We gave bonus points to flossers that came with extra tips (for other family members, to address specific flossing needs or for replacement down the line), though you can often buy tips separately. Some flossers also came with tip storage or storage bags for the flossers themselves.
How To Pick A Water Flosser
You should keep a few factors in mind to ensure you’re choosing the best water flosser for your lifestyle. “The most important thing is thinking about how it’s going to fit into your daily routine,” says Dr. Diana Nguyen, general dentist and associate professor at UCSF Dental Center. Here’s everything you should consider.
Countertop Vs. Portable
The key difference among the water flossers we tested is that some are cordless and portable, while others have cords and need to be plugged into an outlet to use. Here’s a breakdown of these two categories:
- Countertop: These models take up a larger amount of space on your bathroom counter and have a long cord that needs to plug into a power source. They are also loud. They tend to have more—and more powerful—pressure settings, plus a larger reservoir that you won’t have to refill as often.
- Portable: These flossers are smaller and can be recharged to operate cordlessly. They’re quieter but have fewer pressure settings, and some aren’t as powerful as corded models. They also have a much smaller reservoir, which means that they will need to be refilled between every use.
Pressure Settings
Most of the water flossers we tested have multiple pressure settings, ranging from two modes to 10, as well as different cleaning modes, which can include pulsations or massaging. You may opt for a water flosser with higher pressure settings if you have hardware in your mouth. “Sometimes, it just requires a little bit more pressure to get all of that food and everything dislodged and debrided,” says Kennedy. On the other hand, lower pressure settings are helpful for people with more sensitive gums.
Features
Water flossers come with a variety of extra features, including different tips, tip storage options, chargers, carrying cases and more. While most of these features are simply nice to have, if they’ll help motivate you to use your flosser, it’s worth considering a model with extra perks. In addition to a water flosser, other adaptations, like using a universal cuff to help with grip, or a refillable flosser, can also help people maintain oral health independently, according to rehabilitation engineer Jared Grier and occupational therapist Erin Prentice.
ADA Acceptance
The is awarded to dental products after the association does its own evaluation and testing, and it can indicate a high-quality product. Companies do have to apply for this seal, however. At the time of publication, all of our winners except for the have the ADA seal.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched, written and published dozens of grooming stories, with several dedicated to personal products like oral care.
- This story was written by senior reviews editor Anna Perling, who has been testing products and writing about them for eight years, during which time she’s reviewed a wide range of household items including the best electric toothbrushes.
- This story was reviewed by deputy editor Jane Sung, who oversees the beauty and wellness section. She has been reporting on lifestyle topics for over two decades.
Our Experts
- , general dentist and health sciences associate clinical professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences at UCSF Dental Center
- , assistant dean of curriculum and integrated learning at Kansas City University and an ADA spokesperson
- , occupational therapist at , a hospital that specializes in treating people with spinal cord injuries and neuromuscular conditions
- , rehabilitation engineer at Shepherd Center