For the past 18 months, I’ve personally been using the WaterPik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser every night before bed.
Now that I have enough real world experience to share honest and personal feedback, I wanted to write this quick post to help you decided whether this water flosser is a good choice for you.
Below you’ll find a quick overview of the pros and cons, what the impact on my dental health has been, and some FAQs and tips for getting the best price if you’re looking to purchase one yourself.
A Dentist’s Recommendation and a Failed Experiment
Like most people, despite the scolding from many a dental hygienist, I could never maintain a regular flossing routine.
The feel of floss wrapped around my fingers, the inconvenience of sticking my hand into my mouth then having to wash my hands, and perhaps a pinch of my own laziness made it a habit I just couldn’t stick to.
I came to the realization that I needed to look for alternatives that fit my lifestyle better.
After telling my dentist, they suggested I try a WaterPik, assuring me it could provide many of the same benefits as traditional flossing and would definitely be better than nothing since I wasn’t sticking to the flossing plan.
The cheap water flosser was a bust
I decided to dip my toes into the world of water flossers with a cheap alternative (non-name brand) I found on Amazon for around $40, since they all kinda look the same, right?
To my surprise, I took to it quite well and thought I had found my solution.
But then 3 weeks later – the machine malfunctioned, overheated and died on me. The internal motor got stuck on and it ran itself for hours getting dangerously hot, before the battery died and I tossed it in the trash.
It was clear that if I wanted to continue on this path, I needed to invest in a more reputable brand.
WaterPik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser: My Long Term Stick-to-It Solution
Then came the Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser.
It has now been 1.5 years since I started using this device, and I must say, it’s been a game-changer. My dental hygienist noticed the difference and my cleaning appointments are shorter than ever since I’m going in with a better starting point of oral health.
I’ve had no new cavities, no technical issues with the WaterPik unit, and can see myself using this for the foreseeable future.
Pros and Cons
Notable Features & Benefits
- Improved Dental Health: I have seen a noticeable improvement in my oral health. No new cavities, which means less time and money spent at the dentist. I used to get a ton of plaque build up, especially on my lower-center teeth, and this has really helped eliminate that. Being able to avoid the numbing-agent injections for cavity fillings is a really big benefit, as is not having to sit there for 45 minutes while a scolding hygienist scrapes plaque from my sensitive gum line. The improvement is real and it does make a difference.
- Durability & Reliability: Unlike my previous water flosser, this one has held up remarkably well, showing no signs of malfunction or decline in performance after 18 months.
- Rotating Nozzle: Unlike my cheaper previous water flosser that had a fixed angle, this new WaterPik has 360 degree tip rotation which allows you to reposition the spray angle of the nozzle to suit your personal hand position which is a nice touch.
- Ease of Use & Cleanliness: No messy fingers, no tight floss around my hand, no awkward flossing angles – just a simple, clean, and quick process. Fill up the water tank in a few seconds, stick the nozzle in my mouth, and done within a minute or so. This ease of use is why I’ve actually been able to stick to an oral health routine for the first time in my life.
Minor Inconveniences
There are a couple of minor issues that I think should be mentioned for the sake of a balanced review.
Water Tank Size:
Firstly, due to its portable size, you may find yourself having to refill the water tank in the middle of your flossing session if you go for more than 45 seconds. It’s only takes 5-seconds to refill, but it’s still an interruption.
This is the tradeoff of a portable wireless handheld unit like this.
If you’re really annoyed by this, WaterPik sells less-portable versions with much larger tanks like this one, but this comes with its own set of tradeoffs due to size and a wired handle, so you’ll have to decide what you value more.
Charger Orientation:
Although the battery lasts a very long time between charges, there is one minor annoyance with the charger. Basically, the charger attaches to the front of the device using a magnet, but it only connects in one orientation (see pics below).
If your power plug is to the right hand side of where you store your WaterPik you’ll need to wrap the cord around in a weird way, which isn’t really inconvenient but not as aesthetically pleasing as it could be. This is truly a nit-pick concern that most people wouldn’t even notice, but wanted to flag it nonetheless.
Cost:
I’ll be honest in saying this is not the cheapest water flosser available. It’s definitely possible to find cheaper options on Amazon, but quality will vary.
I specifically chose this top-of-the-line model because I got burned by the cheaper unit I bought first and didn’t want to have to keep buying new ones or dealing with the hassle of warranties all the time.
But depending on your risk tolerance and financial situation, you might find this too expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few questions you might have about the WaterPik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser.
These answers should apply to all the following model numbers, as it appears the only difference between them is color: WP-580, WP-567, WP-582, and WP-583.
- How long does the battery last? The battery life is quite impressive. I don’t keep track of the exact timing between charges, but it’s at least several weeks. I’ve seen others say 4-6 weeks.
- How long does it take to charge? Charging time is about 4 hours for a full charge. You can leave it plugged in overnight and it will be charged by the time you wake up in the morning.
- Does it have different pressure settings? Yes, it does. You can adjust the water pressure to a level that’s comfortable for you.
- How does it compare to traditional flossing? It’s definitely more comfortable and convenient from my experience. You don’t need to wrap string tightly around your fingers and stick them in your mouth, or wash your hands after use. The biggest benefit for me is that I actually use it, whereas I could never stick to a flossing plan.
- Is it worth the investment? Yes, for me personally it was worth the investment. It has saved me literal pain and money from not getting any new cavities since using it. Also, my regular dental cleaning appointments are shorter now since I come in with a better starting mouth. You’ll have to balance the benefits vs the price yourself, but for me it’s an obvious win.
- How noisy is it? It produces a moderate noise while in use, similar to other electric toothbrushes or flossers.
- Can I travel with it? Absolutely. Its cordless design and built-in internal water tank makes it easy to pack and carry. I usually just remove the tip/nozzle so it doesn’t get caught on anything and snap off in transit, then put it into a bag inside my suitcase. If you want a more classy and secure option, they also sell this hard travel case with room for the unit and charger.
- What’s the difference between a WaterPik and a water flosser? WaterPik is the brand name of a specific company that sells a variety of water flossers and other dental products. There are also water flossers made by other companies besides WaterPik, for example the Oral-B Water Flosser. Your question is similar to asking “what’s the difference between Coca Cola and soda?”
- Can I use it in the shower? Yes, per WaterPik’s own website, it can be used in the shower.
- How much does it cost? The cost fluctuates with sales and promotions and also depends on the color you get. If you’re looking on the Amazon product page these are currently selling for around $79-110 (this is of course subject to change). So make sure you look at all the options and you might be able to find a good deal on a less popular color. This might seem a little expensive, but keep in mind you’re going to use this daily for years.
Wrapping Up
Despite any of the small inconveniences mentioned, I would still highly recommend the Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser. The benefits far outweigh the minor gripes, especially if you’ve found yourself unable to stick to a consistent flossing routine.
The device has not only helped me maintain better oral hygiene habits but also saved me from painful dental procedures and hefty bills. And after 18 months of use, I’ve had no technical issues with the flosser.
My dental cleanings are much quicker now since there’s less plaque build up. And hearing the hygienist compliment me after a lifetime of scolding feels pretty good too!
For your convenience, I’ve left links below to the flosser and other items mentioned in this post. I wish you the best of luck and I know that your teeth will thank you!
Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser
Aquarius Water Flosser Professional (larger tank, less portable)
