20 Best Waterpik For Periodontal Disease (2023 Updated)

After about 30 days of consistent use, I’ve fallen in love with “flossing” my teeth again! The thoroughness of getting all of the food particles out from in between my teeth, and the health of my gums have improved 10 fold.

I’ve seen a noticeable improvement and actually look forward to this evening ritual again. When I actually flossed my teeth with string, my gums would periodically bleed and I never felt I was getting all of the particles out, but now, it’s different.

I still use a quick brush of my teeth with toothpaste to loosen anything, then I run the WaterPik (takes 90 seconds) and I couldn’t be happier with the results. So glad I found and purchased this product.

Actually, my dental hygienist told me about it during my last cleaning. I can’t wait for my next scheduled cleaning so she can see the improvements!.

I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of a water flosser, but never enough to try one for myself. I detest flossing as most do, and am pretty lousy at using the regular loose string. I usually keep up with regular flossing using the pre-strung plastic flossers, but in looking to reduce my consumption of single-use plastic I needed something different.

I remember the water flosser my parents had when I was very young; it was large and loud and I was definitely not allowed to touch it. But having a friend today who swears by her Waterpik I decided to check this one out.

The ION looks like someone used a shrink ray on a regular water flosser, producing an adorably-small unit that reminds me of the full-size one my parents had but on a much smaller scale. What immediately sold me, however, was learning that this unit is cordless and rechargeable.

I have only one bathroom outlet and a very small countertop, seemingly the target audience of Waterpik’s ION, so I decided to check it out for myself. The ION is even smaller than it looks in pictures and really is pretty cute.

As promised, it is rechargeable, and with once-per-day use can hold a charge for about a month at a time. It fits perfectly on my small countertop for use and then stores easily in the linen cabinet when I’m done.

Having never used a water flosser I can say the ION is very straightforward. After charging you attach one of the included water piks (there are two standard heads and four accessory heads for different needs), fill the reservoir, insert the pik in your mouth and get going.

The heads swivel 360 degrees and will click into place wherever you twist them. There is an eject button on the side of the handle to pop the piks out for cleaning or replacement. You can order any variety of pik from the Waterpik website to meet your cleaning needs.

I’m intrigued by the tongue cleaning pik and plan to give that one a try in the future. Waterpik recommends replacing your piks every 6 months. The ION’s water reservoir holds enough water for one mouthful of flossing with a bit left at the end depending on how quickly you move through your teeth.

The reservoir slides easily off the base for refilling and cleaning. It doesn’t shut with a watertight seal, which makes sense as the base is meant to be stationary while you’re flossing, but just note that if you knock it over, it will spill.

If you’ve never water flossed before I can say it’s a bit weird at first, but I got used to it pretty quickly. Waterpik includes both a quick-start guide and a full use and care manual which I recommend reading so you know what you’re doing.

In particular, Waterpik recommends starting with a lower intensity setting using the ION’s large side dial and working your way up to a higher intensity as you adjust to water flossing. I appreciate how simple it is to dial in a setting that works for you and found a medium-high (around 6 on the dial) to work well for me.

Water flossing basically involves a pulsing stream of water that you direct between each tooth, front and back. It’s not unlike the water tool used at a dentist’s office, but much gentler. You can use warm or cool water, or a mixture of water and mouthwash, which could be useful for people with specific needs.

Like many electric toothbrushes, the ION pauses briefly to remind you to move to the next section of your mouth. It pauses briefly at 30 seconds and again at 60 seconds (Waterpik recommends flossing for one minute, spending 30 seconds on your top arch of teeth and 30 seconds on the bottom).

I appreciate that the unit keeps running after the last pulse in case you haven’t quite finished. I was unsure how clean my teeth would feel after use but I can say the ION does a better job of flossing than I do with either loose string or a plastic floss pick.

I was surprised to see little bits of food in the water stream as it left my mouth (ew) after only one use. Clearly it was doing something. After each use over the past few days my teeth feel noticeably cleaner, and without any pain or bleeding that sometimes occurs when I’m not being careful with regular string floss.

Nice! Using a water flosser involves a stream of water entering and leaving your mouth, so naturally it’s going to be a bit messier than regular floss. I’ve found how open or closed your lips are makes a huge difference in how much splashing and mess you make.

Going slowly and making sure to aim the pik properly helps as well. I’ve managed to contain the water to the sink pretty easily and I’m confident most people will find a technique that works for them with a little practice.

Cleanup is simple: dump any leftover water, give everything a quick wipe with a towel, and attach the wand to the base via the built-in magnet. The ION stores easily away after that. I’ve been perfectly happy with the default flossing attachment but if you find yourself switching between piks often you might want to invest in the storage case available on Waterpik’s website.

Overall, I’m really pleased with the ION, and I actually enjoy using it, which I didn’t necessarily expect. It’s easily become a staple of my nightly routine and I anticipate continuing to use it whenever I’m home.

I’ll probably stick to regular floss for travel, as the ION is a lttle bulky for that (although with a rechargeable battery it’s certainly possible to take along if you have room in your luggage), but Waterpik does make smaller travel-focused models that I might just have to check out.

I have used waterpiks for many years. I bought this one a couple months ago and use it everyday. It holds a good charge and has a lot of power. The big problem is the same as many people are complaining about, mold at the bottom of the water tank.

I always leave the little door open and try to dry it out, but the mold is persistent. It is in a place that you can’t get to, so once it gets in there, all you can do is throw it out. I wish I had known about this before buying it.

I have never had this problem with any previous units, but this particular unit has a serious design flaw!.

Good: Well made, rechargeable battery lasts a long timeNot so good: Runs out of water quickly, awkward to use with smaller hands, buttons easily mistakenly pressed changing mode while using. Dont worry about the 2min auto shutoff.

It will run out of water after 30-45 seconds. You then need to refill. I refill 2-4 times depending on how quick I go. I havent been back to the dentist to see if this makes any difference to my gum health.

It does definitely remove food and mouth feels very clean. Overall I do like the result and actually look forward to flossing. But its a learning curve to use this tool effectively.

It’s awkward to use because of the size and the position of the water reservoir. If you tip it a certain way, the water moves away from the water pump. Annoying. The water reservoir is difficult to clean.

There is only a small opening, smaller than a dime. Imagine trying to clean it or air it out so it doesn’t get moldy. There are two water pressure settings, they seem about the same, not very strong.

I really wanted to love this, but it’s just not that great.

Disappointed as soon as I saw that the reservoir did not have a lid to cover it. So if fill it with water and leave it, you have dust flying in it, hair etc. The comment above about being able to flip it to act as a lid is ridiculous.

How can you flip it when it’s filled with water. Why in the world would you make something like this with no lid to keep the water clean is beyond me. wasted my money. I’ve only owned it and couple of weeks bought it straight from dentist office after Mt cleaning.

Many years ago my Dad, who had excellent teeth, came home with the announcement that he would soon be having serious gum surgery, necessitated by periodontal disease. After that painful experience he always lectured me on the need to pay attention to healthy gums as well as teeth.

One of the problems with regular and mechanical toothbrushes is that they can’t affect the gap between the tooth and the gum, and these can grow over the years to be deep enough to trap all kinds of food particles.

Used regularly, Water Pik makes short work of trapped matter, while gently purging the gaps with oxygenated water and stimulating blood circulation. These effects are instrumental in preventing growth of the gaps, accumulation of tartar and food particles, and resultant bleeding gums.

Ask a dentist if you don’t believe me. Though I brush religiously twice a day, I also use my Water Pik about twice a week for 3-4 minutes. My last unit worked fine for a decade or more. The new one is just as effective but a lot quieter.

Tip #1: If desired you can make an 80/20 water/antiseptic mouthwash mix in the tank for extra effectiveness, and I do that about once a month. (Whenever I use the mix, I purge the unit with a little fresh water after use.

) Tip #2: Always suck the last of the waterout of the unit before putting it away to reduce risk of stuff growing in the plumbing between uses. The unit has multiple nozzles provided, so several family members can use it without an “ick factor.

” Tip #3 For convenience I leave my unit fully assembled (with the tank in top) on the bathroom counter. To keep it clean, I cover the tank with a loose plastic bonnet used for covering food in the refrigerator.

I’ve had two earlier models of this Waterpik over the years and liked them. I bought this one to replace my previous one when it wore out after several years of use. The new unit is made well and looks similar to the previous models.

However, I stopped using the new one after a few months because the water spray is too powerful for my gums, even on the lowest setting, causing overall soreness. This wasn’t an issue with the older, WP-65 model.

I am not a dental floss user. BUT I have used a Waterpik reservoir flosser since 1995 when I lived in Fort Collins, Colorado and purchased my first Waterpik directly from the Manufacturer. This is my 3rd flosser of this model.

Why have I only had to purchase 3 in the last 27 years? The product performance is amazing! The customer support is the best — by replacing parts (a very simple process), I have been able to extend the life of my Waterpik until well beyond what I expected.

Using vinegar as suggested (monthly) in my “hard water” location extends the life of the parts. The size of the reservoir is perfect for nightly flossing. The results of my use of this product is confirmed by my dentist every six months.

My Waterpik keeps gum recession and pockets to a minimum. And it’s perfect for cleaning under my bridge and around my implant. As a long-time user, I highly recommend this product!.

I bought this to replace the phillips airfloss that I had for years which is easier to use than this waterpik. The waterpic I purchased did not work. I thought I was doing something wrong. I read the instructions, which must of been written by a lawyer.

No where in the manual did it say that turning the switch to on would make the water come out. The airfloss had an on switch and you pushed a button to make the water come out. Having the button makes the sonicare much easier to use.

After I returned the unit and got one that worked I found that I was very likely to turn off the switch after removing the waterpik from my mouth. The water went all over the room. I think this is why many of the reviewers use it in the shower.

I did not have this problem with the sonicare. It was much easier to find out that waterpik felt that I agreed to an arbitration agreement by buying their product than to find the instruction for how the appliance worked.

The arbitration agreement was on its own page in very easy to read print. I finally found the instructions on a very small pamphlet which had fallen out of the box. These were the quick start instructions which were about two inches by one inch.

It was so small I had to put reading glasses on to read it and did not notice that it had fallen on the floor from the box. I did not have to put my reading glasses on to read the arbitration agreement.

They should hire more product designers to make the product more useable and fewer Lawyers.

I was skeptical when i purchased this, however it comes with multiple options to clean. It has different settings. You can use a low setting for a soft clean or a harder setting to get everything in between.

Very satisfied with this purchase. It definitely does the job!.

daily prevention is the key to healthy teeth, gums and bone. We recommend this unit to ALL our patients, using warm water this unit gives the best power, best product for your money. The reservoir comes off, after your finished, take it off the unit, put a wash cloth over the unit and then place the reservoir upside down so less bacteria and mold get inside.

remember to keep your head bent over the sink at all times, allowing the water to run into the sink instead of your sleeve. don’t even look up! this is done all by feel, place tip in mouth, then turn it on, then SLOWLY start on one side and work your way around.

remember to swivel the handle, while still in your mouth, to do the inside as well! no need to turn it on and off. you can even spend a little more time in the “between” teeth areas, counting to 5 and then travel to the next tooth slowly.

your gums and teeth still need brushing and true flossing, however, bacteria and odors hide between the back teeth especially, one on the 2nd biggest reasons for bad breath. the first is the TONGUE. it’s a “carpet” of bacteria! brush it with baking soda daily! you will save money in the long run!.

This was a replacement for my rechargeable hand-held model that, after many years of faithful service, did not work well any longer. The reason I purchased THIS new particular model, was that it has the largest water reservoir of Water Pik’s home/personal models.

The other small rechargeable one, was always running out of water, and had to be filled at least four times or more to do each quadrant of the mouth. At the same price as the rechargeable model with much smaller water reservoir, it’s a no-brainer.

I love the new one! It has far more pressure than the old rechargeable model, has adjustable pressure for people with sensitive gums, and best of all, has sufficient water in the reservoir to clean your entire mouth without refilling! It is great, and my dental technician said she could see that my gums were much healthier, with less bleeding, since using the new Water Pik Irrigator.

Only one small downside. the manufacturer does not include a “lid” for the water reservoir. somewhat an invitation for dirt, dust, hair, and other germs to “land in it” while sitting idle on your bathroom vanity counter most of the time.

You must always remember to rinse the reservoir first before attempting to irrigate your mouth and gums with it. This is NOT a replacement for brushing teeth and I am not a Dentist; it is more for food removal, cleaner mouth, and healthy gums.

Try using this product AFTER you think your mouth is clean with regular brushing. You will be amazed! I love it and highly recommend it!.

I had a water flosser in the past but used it after brushing and didn’t really notice a huge difference. Either the tech has gotten much better or using it BEFORE brushing, as recommended, makes it so much more effective.

I have 4 pockets in my gums from teeth removal for adult braces. These never felt thoroughly clean and wearing a mask during the pandemic proved that even after brushing, I had some bad breath. That has completely disappeared since using my WaterPik before brushing.

I love the clean feeling so much that I’m using it twice a day and sometimes in between if I’ve had something like popcorn to get rid of those annoying hulls. My teeth seem so much brighter and whiter now because there is no plaque hiding out between my teeth and along the gum line.

Can’t wait for my dentist to hear their thoughts on my dental health.

I purchased this Waterpik, with some apprehension. My dentist recommended it strongly, but I wasn’t sure I’d actually use it. This “kit” is an excellent value (I really like the portable unit, for when I travel).

The Main Waterpic unit works great and there are tips included, for all of your needs. I’ve been using the standard tip. The instructions are good, but I chose to watch Waterpik’s online videos as well.

My only “minor” complaint is that the portable unit doesn’t hold enough water, for a full cleaning. I have to fill it twice for my process. That said, if they made the reservoir larger, it would probably be too difficult to hold and use.

Overall, I’m very pleased with this purchase.

I am pleased with the performance of the Waterpik, easy to keep clean. 4 stars because the lid, holding the various cleaning heads, does not hold all of them! Your selected pik has to stay on the handle.

Also, the selector dial for controlling the water jet pressure is completely white. Has a very shallow dimple on it to show which level you’ve selected. Would be much better if it was coloured – blue, perhaps! Could do with a couple of design refinements, I think.

After friends, dentists, and now my 7yo granddaughter saying how great water piks are and surprised I don’t have one, I finally bought one. I did a quick research and found this model to have great reviews.

It was on sale at the time so it was my best choice. I like how it has 10 settings and the water reservoir has a large capacity. The lid for it was a must also. Nice that it cane with addl tips hidden in the lid.

The only negative is that it’s so loud! I placed a washcloth underneath hoping to muffle the sound but it’s still super loud. Maybe it’s standard for all water piks. Idk, but I like it overall so I’m keeping it.

I’ve never used a Waterpik before, but I don’t like regular flossing, so I thought it was worth a try when I saw it on sale. Ok, it works (except for Plaque Seeker tip, which was blocked internally right out of the sealed factory package – I had to ream it out with a wire to get it working).

But the product seems unrefined for something that’s been around a long time. The pump motor clatters and wheezes loudly like a old diesel. The stiff coiled tube on this model makes it hard to wield the head.

The reservoir is too small. It would be better if the pressure control on the base had been a remote control on the head. I just thought the design would be a bit more polished.

Waterpik ultra plus and cordless express. First the ultra plus has a bigger tank than my regular waterpik. Which I have replaced my old one with this one as I love this one so much more. Easy to use and quick.

One flip switch to turn on and off and a dial to choose your pressure you like the best. I use 6/7 personally. 5 accessory tips which all come in handy quickly pop in and out to use. Plus it has a compartment to store the tips right on the top of the holding tank.

My old waterpik also did not have this feature. This is my new favorite thing in my bathroom. Now the cordless express I absolutely that I can take this anywhere with me and use it. I am a avid flosser and I usually use the little flossing picks.

But since I have this cordless waterpik now I don’t have to use those and risk damage to my gums. This has a quick push button to pop the accessory tip up to change it out and 2 different pressure switch.

Also this did come with the 3 aa batteries that you need to operate which I thought was nice. I do wish it could have just been a rechargeable product as I don’t use or buy batteries to much. I will look forward to seeing how long the batteries do last for this.

Also cute little Tavel bag to carry and keep it from getting dirty out in public. Love these 2 waterpiks I do use them everyday. Defiantly recommend.