I recently found an amazing thing called “water flosser” (finally!). Basically, this is a machine that can help you clean the gaps between your teeth and the place where the gum and teeth connect, as well as massage your gum. (But just a quick reminder: this cannot replace regular flossing.)
The water flosser I bought is the one shown below: Waterpik WP-660 Water Flosser. I choose this one because, well, Waterpik is the brand that shows up everywhere when I was searching for water flossers. It is also the only brand that is certified by the American dental association. Plus it just happened that it was on sale… So I ordered it.
Let me tell you this – after I got it, the “using water flosser” part immediately became the favorite section of my oral hygiene routine. I even started to look forward to cleaning my teeth (lol). Watching that debris flowing out along with water is really a disgusting yet oddly satisfying experience! It has a built-in timer that will give you a hint after 2 minutes of using it to remind you don’t over-use it. After using the water flosser, I often stand there for a moment, alone in the bathroom, just to review and reflect on my own oral hygiene routine because there’s still lots of debris even after using a toothbrush and a traditional flosser… (Ok let’s just stop there and don’t get too deep into that debris and how unclean my teeth were…) But everyone has a different oral health status. I would suggest you evaluate your own situation and consult your dentist before start using it.
Here are some pros and cons of this Waterpik water flosser (or some of the bullet points are for most water flossers in general) based on my search and personal experience. Listing them here for your reference if you are thinking about getting one!
Waterpik Pros
- Adjustable water pressure
What I love the most about this Waterpik water flosser is that it has pressure settings from level 1 to 10 and you can adjust it according to your oral health status. I started from the weakest (level 1) and I’m now using 3 (not very important info…)! It suggests starting with the lowest pressure setting and gradually add up, just to be safe. I personally prefer the products with adjustable water pressure, so that I won’t be too cruel to my gum. - Separated switches on the water tank and the handle
This is another must for me when choosing a water flosser. It needs to have a final on/off control on the handle so you can turn on the switch after you’ve properly placed the tips inside your mouth. If there’s no switch on the handle, you’ll have to turn it on first and try to put the tip in your mouth while the water is flowing. In that case, I think your neck and chest will be all soaked when you are ready to start flossing. - Rotatable tip
Its tip is rotatable, which means that you can rotate the tip to adjust to different angles when you are cleaning different areas, and not have to twist your arm in a weird way. - The 2-minute timer
As mentioned briefly before, it has a built-in timer that will give you a hint every 30 seconds, and after using for 2 minutes. This can help to avoid over-cleaning and harming the gum. - Getting deep into the gaps for cleaning and massaging the gum
This is more like a general-purpose of using water flossers, not just Waterpik – making teeth and gum healthier by cleaning the teeth thoroughly and massaging the gum. I feel that it’s pretty effective in improving my gum health. - Multi-functional
This might also apply to most water flossers. Other than adding water for basic cleaning, you can also put mouthwash in the tank, or other suitable teeth-whitening products for different purposes.
Waterpik Cons
- A little noisy
The vibration and noise this water flosser makes are pretty noticeable. It’s louder than I expected. I’m not bothered by it personally, but I recommended this to my friend, who loves the cleanness it brings but doesn’t enjoy the noise.
Another small thing – when I’m wearing my AirPods, which is connected via Bluetooth, and listen to music while using this water flosser, oftentimes the music will stop, go in and out, or the left and right sides will become not synced. Not sure if others have the same issue as I do but I guess there might not be a lot of people who listen to music while brushing their teeth… Anyways, this shouldn’t be a big issue. - Takes up some space
This machine could take up some space around your sink. It’s not huge, but it has a water tank so still needs some space. If you have a smaller bathroom/sink or are considering using it on trips, you might want to consider some other products that are designed for a more portable use case. - Needs a bit of practicing
I spread water literally everywhere when I first used it. 🙂 Some small tricks for you would be to slightly close your mouth when using it, and look into the sink instead of look at the mirror in front of you. (Or else you’ll be joining my water-spreading party.) But it’s very easy to get the hang of it. It went smoothly with my second attempt. - Overusing it might harm your gum
No matter which tool you choose, it is not a good idea to overclean it. Don’t brush too hard with your toothbrush, don’t push too hard when flossing, and the same applies to water flossers. Don’t set the water pressure too high nor use it for too long. That’s why I’d prefer to use one that can adjust the water pressure, and have a timer/reminder. If not, then you can at least check that the water pressure will work for you, and remind yourself not to use it for too long!
I’m really amazed by this water flosser so can’t help but write this post to share with you lol. But as a soft reminder (again), everyone has a different oral health status and I would recommend you to talk to your dentist before buying or using it. Lastly, hope we all (yes, including me) have heathy teeth that will make the dentists proud!