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Best Waterpik for Braces: Review and Comparison of Water Flossers

Simon Frers
Contributor:
Simon Frers
Amanda Dexter
Contributor:
Amanda Dexter
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It can be challenging to maintain good dental hygiene while wearing dental braces. Thus, many dentists advise using a Waterpik for braces.

A decent water flosser will assist you in maintaining a healthy, pain-free, and clean mouth, just like traditional floss, but without the hassle.

In this article, we’ll cover the following:

  • What is the best Waterpik for braces?
  • How to use a Waterpik orthodontic tip?
  • What are the best water flossers for braces?

We hope this article will help you determine what Waterpik water flosser is right for you.

The following table summarises some of the products discussed in this article:

Best Water Flossers for Braces

Oclean W10 

  • Number of tips: 4 

  • Number of settings: 5 power settings

  • Cordless: Yes

  • Ergonomic grip 

  • Orthodontic tip included

Waterpik WP-660UK Ultra

  • Number of tips: 5 different (7 in total)

  • Number of settings: 10 power settings

  • Cordless: No

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  • Orthodontic tip included

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Waterpik Cordless Plus

  • Number of tips: 4 different

  • 2 power settings

  • Cordless: Yes

  • Orthodontic tip included

Why should you use a water flosser with braces?

It’s usually enough to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day, whether you floss before or after brushing, but braces can make brushing difficult. It’s especially difficult to get behind the wires and get into the creases between the brackets and your teeth.

All of this fiddly, extra work also increases the time it takes to brush your teeth. Unfortunately, if you don’t put in the additional effort to maintain appropriate dental hygiene, you run the danger of getting:

waterpik for braces
What are the best water flossers for braces?
  • Tooth decay
  • Yellow or brown stained teeth
  • Gum disease
  • White spots on teeth
  • Halitosis (bad breath)

Once your teeth are correctly aligned, maintaining good oral hygiene should be easier. Be careful not to cause yourself any further issues while you try to correct your misaligned teeth with braces.

How to use a Waterpik with braces

  • Fill the water tank with lukewarm water
  • Lean over the sink and aim it at the gum line
  • Turn on the Waterpik
  • Slowly move the tip along your gumline, pausing between teeth
  • Close your lips to prevent splashing
  • Let the water flow into the sink

Best water flossers for braces

While there are other options like orthodontic floss picks, water flossers are gaining popularity because they are very efficient and save you a lot of time on your daily oral hygiene routine.

An electric water flosser is a fantastic alternative if using regular dental floss is too challenging for you or your kid while wearing braces. These devices, sometimes known as oral irrigators, clean between teeth by ejecting a pressurised jet or pulse of water (and air, with certain types).

Oclean, Waterpik, and Philips Airfloss are just a few of the well-known brands of water flossers for braces. These come in many different versions with a range of characteristics.

If you want to use it on your kids’ teeth, make sure to look for one with an adjustable water pressure level.

waterpik for braces
The Oclean W10 is our top recommended water flosser for braces

Oclean W10 Water Flosser

If you are looking for a water flosser for braces, we recommend the W10 water flosser from Oclean. It has 4 speciality nozzles which include an orthodontic nozzle, a periodontal pocket nozzle, a standard nozzle and a tongue scraping nozzle.

We recommend using the orthodontic nozzle when using a water flosser with braces, however, you can take your pick. It also has 3 flossing modes and is waterproof so you can use it in the shower if you choose to.

The main features of the Ocean W10 include:

  • 5 modes
  • 4 360-degree rotating high-performance nozzles
  • Battery indicator
  • Timer
  • 200mL water tank
  • Quick recharge
  • 3 flossing modes, including one soft mode for sensitive teeth
  • Ergonomic handle

Read our full review of the Oclean W10 water flosser to find out more. If you want more recommendations on the best water flossers for braces read our article here.

Best Waterpik for braces

The most well-known brand of water flossers is undoubtedly Waterpik. Same as other water flossers and oral irrigators on the market, a Waterpik also sprays water to flush out food particles from in between your teeth.

The Waterpik Ultra Professional Water Flosser is an ideal countertop water flosser for braces

Since most Waterpik devices have orthodontic tips, they make excellent water flossers for braces. Here are some of the best Waterpiks for braces:

Waterpik Ultra Professional Water Flosser WP-660UK

If you are looking for a countertop water flosser, this can be a fantastic Waterpik for braces. This device comes with a special orthodontic tip, which makes cleaning braces much easier.

Here are some of the features of this electric water flosser:

  • Large water reservoir for thorough cleaning
  • Three-year warranty
  • 10 water pressure settings
  • Seven flossing tips, including one special orthodontic tip for cleaning braces

Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser

Waterpik Cordless Advanced water flosser

The Waterpik Cordless Advanced is a portable and waterproof water flosser that you can use in the shower or take with you on a holiday. This water flosser also comes with a special orthodontic tip, which also makes it a great Waterpik flosser for braces.

Here are some of the features of this electric flosser:

  • Magnetic cordless charging
  • Three pressure settings
  • Multiple tips, including a special orthodontic tip for cleaning braces

How to use the Waterpik orthodontic tip

The Waterpik orthodontic tip attachment is an innovative tapered brush that is designed to remove hard-to-reach plaque around orthodontic brackets and wires. Plus, it helps in the removal of food particles and germs from beneath the gums and around the teeth.

It should be replaced every three months according to Waterpik.

Watch this video to learn more about how the Waterpik orthodontic tip works.

The Waterpik™ Orthodontic Tip has a tapered brush on the end to help remove plaque from braces and orthodontics. It also helps flush out bacteria and food debris from around teeth and under the gums. For additional details, see: https://www.waterpik.com/buying-guide/water-flosser-tips-guide/

Conclusion

Regular floss can certainly get the job done, and indeed dentists will tell you that water flossers aren’t a replacement for floss.

But it takes much longer and is more difficult to thread it in and out of the gap under the archwire. Fortunately, there are a variety of products available that make flossing simple and easy and can supplement your flossing while you have braces (and afterwards too!)

FAQ

What is the best Waterpik for braces?

If you’re looking for a Waterpik for braces, choose one with an orthodontic tip. Our recommendations are the Waterpik Aquarius or the Waterpik Cordless Advanced.

What are the best flossers for braces?

When looking for a water flosser for braces, we recommend selecting one that comes with an orthodontic tip. Our recommendations are the Oclean W10 or a Waterpik water flosser.

Is a Waterpik good for braces?

waterpik for braces how to use
If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment we recommend using a Waterpik to floss

Waterpik water flossers have shown to be 3 times more effective than string floss for orthodontic patients. Using a water flosser is also much faster and easier.

Can a Waterpik replace flossing with braces?

A Waterpik may help in the removal of food particles from your teeth. Particularly while wearing braces, it is a fantastic substitute for conventional string flossing.

What is the best cordless Waterpik for braces?

We recommend the Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser. It comes with an orthodontic tip attachment and different pressure settings. Overall it’s a fantastic portable device.

Which Waterpik is best for braces?

We recommend the Waterpik Ultra Professional Water Flosser as a countertop water flosser, or the Cordless Advanced as a portable device. They both come with an orthodontic tip and are great Waterpiks for braces.

Best Waterpik for Braces: Review and Comparison of Water Flossers
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Sources

Waterpik. Waterpik Aquarius water flosser. Consulted 22nd September 2022.

Waterpik. Waterpik® Water Flosser: 3 Times as Effective as String Floss for Orthodontic Patients. Consulted 22nd September 2022.