The 5 Best Water Flossers, Based On Real-World Testing (2025)

As an alternative to using dental floss, you may opt for a water flosser instead: a countertop bathroom appliance that shoots a concentrated stream of water along your gumline to remove plaque and bacteria. (It’s also known as an oral irrigator or, perhaps more recognizably, by the popular brand name Waterpik.) We tested 13 water flossers between 2023 and 2025, and the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser reigns as the best water flosser overall thanks to its simple, user-friendly design. If you’re looking for a cordless model for ease and portability, we think the waterproof and ergonomic Waterpik Cordless Advanced 2.0 Water Flosser is the best option. And for a basic, sleek model that isn’t an eyesore, we recommend the Quip Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser.

Here’s a list of all our winners:

Why get a water flosser? Before testing these devices, I was skeptical, as many likely are, of adding a clunky device to my minimalist bathroom; I was unsure I even needed one. But I’ve come to understand why they’re so useful for maintaining dental hygiene. “They’re for any age, because they can help you to dislodge impacted food or plaque that gets stuck in between all those little spaces where maybe your toothbrush bristles aren’t able to reach,” says Dr. Diana Nguyen, general dentist and associate professor at UCSF Dental Center. In addition to being so useful, these little machines can be charming—and fun to use. They stand pert as penguins on your bathroom counter, with their stout reservoirs and elongated nozzles, ready to clean your teeth with a powerful stream of continuous water to dislodge whatever bits and bobs may be lurking after meals. Yes, they’re messy and loud, but they’re effective—and if you lean into the quirks of using a water flosser, you may even enjoy it. Read on for our list of the best water flossers of 2025.

The Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser won as best water flosser overall thanks to its reliable flossing action, versatile design and great value. It carries the ADA seal of approval (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 your flossing experience. 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 Waterpik Ultra (our pick for the best value option), with an improved on/off button, an additional flossing mode and a smaller footprint.

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.

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, the handles on corded water flossers allow you to turn the stream on or off, whereas with most cordless flossers, water starts shooting out when you turn them on. The corded flossers give you more control while flossing. 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.

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.

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.

The Quad Stream tip that comes with the 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. 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 ADA seal of approval.

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. Kennedy also recommends using a flosser in the shower as a way to work it into your routine.)

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.

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 ADA seal of approval.

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.

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.

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.

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 plastic version, 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.

Like the Waterpik Aquarius, 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 13 other water flossers between 2023 and 2025 that didn’t make the cut. The first three models below are ones we would still recommend, despite not quite matching the performance quality of our top picks; the rest didn’t stand out, for the reasons noted.

Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser 3000: This flosser comes with Philips’ flexible Quad Stream tip, which we found beneficial for sensitive gums or people with hardware. This model was easy to hold and use, and offered three pressure settings. 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.

Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced: 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. The reservoir is difficult to remove, requiring you to slide a tiny tab at the bottom of the device. Adjusting the tips was also finicky.

Waterpik Cordless Express Water Flosser: This flosser (along with its sibling model, the Cordless Freedom Water Flosser, which was almost identical) 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.

Waterpik Ion Professional Cordless Water Flosser: This flosser was so overwhelmingly loud in our tests that we dismissed it.

Waterpik Nano Plus Water Flosser: 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.

Panasonic Portable Cordless Water Flosser EW-DJ11: 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. The controls are too stiff to use considering they’re damp a lot of the time.

Panasonic Cordless Water Flosser with Ultrasonic Cleaning: 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. It’s also more expensive than our portable picks.

Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0: This model takes a complete approach to oral care, combining 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 also considered their noise levels, footprints and capacity.

Ease Of Use

In 2025, we focused on testing water flossers for ease of use. We used each flosser twice daily over the course of a week to evaluate how easy it 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. “​​The most important thing is thinking about how it’s going to fit into your daily routine,” says Nguyen of the importance of finding the right water flosser for you. “It’s like a pair of shoes: If it’s not comfortable to you, you’re never going to use it, right? You’re never going to wear it. And a water flosser, any type of oral hygiene product or device, is the same.”

Nguyen suggests that a water flosser can also be helpful for caregivers or people with dexterity issues: Because it doesn’t require two hands to use, it can stand in for dental floss, for instance, for those who have had a stroke or hand injury, or someone with Parkinson’s or hand tremors. When assessing ease of use, we also considered button size, handle design and how easy it was to refill reservoirs. 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 Jared Grier, a rehabilitation engineer, and Erin Prentice, an occupational therapist, both at Shepherd Center, a hospital specializing in spinal cord and other neuromuscular conditions.

Effectiveness

Effectiveness is a holistic metric, and we considered several factors in our tests. We used different pressure levels and intensities to see how well they debrided gunk from our teeth. We also considered the reservoir capacity: Did a flosser offer enough water to clean our mouths? Lastly, we considered different tip styles and water streams to see how they felt.

Nguyen adds that while traditional flossing is effective, it depends on technique, and some patients may not like to floss because it’s tedious or causes gum bleeding. A water flosser, on the other hand, can help in this regard. “Because it’s shooting water out of a little plastic tip, then you can aim it at the places where you’re hoping to remove any debris that’s collected around the tooth,” she says. “It’s the actual water and then the water pressure that’s removing that plaque and that biofilm that’s there.”

Dr. Erinne Kennedy, assistant dean of curriculum and integrated learning at Kansas City University and an ADA spokesperson, also spoke to how effective water flossers can be for maintaining oral hygiene. “They actually disrupt the bacteria or the plaque that can form on your teeth, and then flush that bacteria and whatever debris is there out of your gum tissue pockets surrounding your teeth,” she says. While they all 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.”

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

When you’re shopping for the best water flosser, you should keep a few factors in mind to ensure you’re choosing the best option for your lifestyle. Here’s what to consider.

Portability

The key difference among the water flossers we tested is that some are portable, while others have cords and need to be plugged into an outlet to use. Portable flossers are smaller, whereas countertop models have larger footprints. Here’s a breakdown of these two categories:

• Countertop water flossers: 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. A corded countertop flosser may be best for families who want to share one device and rotate tips, or people who need stronger pressure (for example, people with hardware in their mouths).

  Prentice pointed out that if you have limited dexterity, a countertop model may be easier to refill and use compared to a cordless model. Our top countertop pick has a larger lid that you can flip up to fill the basin, and holds more water so you don’t have to top it up as often. “If you can manage a cup, you can pour the water in there as well,” says Prentice. Our cordless pick requires more frequent refilling—you’ll need to use some force to remove the basin fully, and it uses a smaller tab as a refill port. The slimmer handle on a corded model may be easier to hold on to compared to the wider base of a cordless option.

• Portable flossers: 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. These will also have a much smaller reservoir, which means that they will need to be refilled between every use. If you want a flosser with a smaller footprint or travel often, these might be your best option. If you want to use your flosser in the shower, you’ll also want to opt for a portable model. Kennedy recommends this habit-stacking tactic to help motivate patients who struggle to floss by encouraging them to add water flossing to their shower routine in the morning or evening.

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 to help dislodge debris. “Sometimes, it just requires a little bit more pressure to get all of that food and everything dislodged and debrided,” says Kennedy. She also advises that people who smoke or drink a lot of coffee or tea may find using higher pressure settings can be more effective for targeting stains (in addition to seeing your dentist or your hygienist for regular cleanings). On the other hand, lower pressure settings will be 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.

Warranty

A water flosser is more of an investment compared to a pack of dental floss, so you want it to last. All of the winners on our list have a warranty of one year or more. Our best overall pick, the Waterpik Aquarius, is protected against material and manufacturing defects for three years.

ADA Acceptance

The American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance is awarded to dental products after the association does its own evaluation and testing, and 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 Quip Rechargeable Cordless Water Flosser have the ADA seal.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

I’m the senior reviews editor here at Forbes Vetted, where I guide our tested content. I’ve been testing products and writing about them for eight years, during which time I’ve reviewed a wide range of household items; most recently, I’ve reviewed the best peanut butters and the best non-alcoholic drinks.

For this guide, I spoke with several dental experts. These included Dr. Diana Nguyen, general dentist and health sciences associate clinical professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences at UCSF Dental Center, and Dr. Erinne Kennedy, assistant dean of curriculum and integrated learning at Kansas City University and an ADA spokesperson. To learn more about how water flossers can work for people with dexterity issues, I spoke with two representatives from Shepherd Center, a hospital that specializes in treating people with spinal cord injuries and neuromuscular conditions: Erin Prentice, an occupational therapist, and Jared Grier, a rehabilitation engineer.

The Forbes Vetted team has been testing water flossers for over two years, and this piece builds on our testing insights over time. We will continue to evaluate the performance of our top picks over time and update this piece.