While there are many ways to care for your dental braces, the easiest approach is to invest in the best water flosser for braces.
Not only do they remove plaque but also prevent oral health problems like gingivitis and decalcification.
In our article, we’ve reviewed the best water flosser for braces to get you started on the right path.
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TOP 3 BEST WATER FLOSSER FOR BRACES | ||
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#1 Best Water Flosser for Braces - Waterpik Water Flosser - WP-660
Enjoy healthier gums and brighter teeth in just 1 minute a day | ||
#2 Gurin Professional Rechargeable Oral Irrigator Water Flosser 5x more effective than traditional flossing | ||
#3 Waterpik WP-260 Water Flosser For Kids Perfect for kids who have trouble flossing or with braces or orthodontics |
Why you should buy the best water flosser for braces
According to a study done by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the number of people getting braces has been increasing at a staggering rate. Although the majority of orthodontic patients are children and teens, the number of adults seeking braces has increased to more than 1 million.
This is not surprising considering the benefits that braces bestow. These include improved oral health, more confidence and improved speech.
Thus, there has never been a better time to learn how to floss with braces and the benefits this brings.
Here are a few of the advantages of using the best water flosser for braces.
Prevents demineralization
Based on this study, one of the risks of wearing braces is demineralization. With braces, there are more areas between the teeth where food particles can hide. If this food residue comes into contact with bacteria, an acid is formed.
This acid deprives your teeth of the essential calcium and phosphate through a process called decalcification or “white scars”. This condition is characterized by little chalky squares that remain in the areas where the braces once were.
The worst bit is that the demineralization stains are permanent and they can result in cavities.
An important point to note is that braces are not a direct cause for white scars. You can avoid all these problems by following a simple oral hygiene practice that should include cleaning with the best waterpik flosser for braces.
Prevents gingivitis
Healthline defines gingivitis as a condition where the gingiva (part of the gum at the base of the teeth) turns red and swells. If not treated, it can lead to more severe conditions such as periodontitis and tooth loss.
Even though it’s treatable, patients diagnosed with gingivitis might have to wear braces for longer.
One of the primary causes of gingivitis is bacteria. Thus, the easiest way to avoid such bacterial infections is to brush after each meal and floss one or more times every day.
Prevents sensitivity
This usually occurs when the lower layer of your teeth gets exposed due to a receding gum tissue. Simply put, a receding tissue is one that is pulling away from the tooth’s surface.
The roots of your teeth are made up of numerous, small-sized tubules that extend all the way to the tooth’s nerve center. Typically, these tubules are not enclosed by the hard enamel.
So when they’re unveiled, the tiny tubules allow hot or cold foods to trigger the nerve in your tooth, causing you to feel pain. This is why sensitivity is experienced when one is eating hot or cold drinks/foods or when they inhale cold air.
While anyone can get diagnosed with sensitivity, brace wearers are the most susceptible. This is because of the difficulty of cleaning around the arch wires, which leads to poor dental hygiene.
This in turn results in irritated or receding gum line. Good news is that this sensitivity can be prevented by regularly using a water flosser.
Top 6 water flossers for braces
The good news is that this tooth sensitivity can be prevented by regularly using a water flosser. Here our top picks below.
1. Waterpik Water Flosser Dental Countertop
If you’re looking for an all-round water flosser, this WP-660 by Waterpik is the best waterpik for braces. With its durable, lightweight and efficient design, it is no wonder that it’s an award-winning product.
To be more specific, this is one of the few water flossers that has earned the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. What this means is that it’s been tested thoroughly and found to comply with safety and efficacy standards of dental products.
For optimal removal of plaque, this unit blends dual-flossing modes with pulsations and ample water pressure. According to the manufacturer, the flosser gets rid of 99.9% of plaque. Plus, it’s suitable for patients with braces, implants and other dental treatments.
Included in the package are a dozen different tips to facilitate an all-inclusive oral hygiene practice. These include 3 classic jet tips for normal use and a toothbrush tip for manually brushing as you floss.
There’s also a Waterpik orthodontic tip, designed specially for using with braces and a pik pocket tip for periodontal pockets.
Another noteworthy feature is its ergonomic design, which makes it easy to access all the controls.
- PROS
- CONS
- Backed by ADA Seal of Acceptance
- Ergonomic design
- 7 multifunctional tips
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
2. Gurin Professional Rechargeable Oral Irrigator Water Flosser
If you often travel to go camping or visit your grandparents upcountry, you need a portable water flosser like the Professional Oral Irrigator by Gurin.
This unit uses rechargeable lithiumion battery and universal voltage, giving you convenient use regardless of where you are.
It has been clinically tested and proven to be efficient in removing plaque. Its lightweight design means it’s easy to hold continuously while the thin tip makes it possible to navigate to every corner of your mouth.
For patients with braces, the flosser has been fitted with a high-powered water jet for a deep cleaning. More specifically, Gurin water flosser gives you three modes to pick from.
The normal mode provides a constant stream of water. The soft mode minimizes the water pressure, which is vital for users with sensitive teeth and gums. Lastly, we have the pulse mode which removes food particles by releasing water at quick intervals.
Another useful feature is the large reservoir. This means the tank can store enough water for a quick flossing from top to bottom. Even better, this reservoir is very easy to refill. All you need to do is detach then add water. You can also fill it with lukewarm water, if that’s what you prefer.
- PROS
- CONS
- Uses rechargeable batteries
- Big reservoir capacity
- Interchangeable tips
- Powerful water stream
3. Waterpik WP-260 Water Flosser For Kids
You may be interested to read our best water flosser for kids review here
If your toddler wears braces, the Waterpik WP-260 is the best water flosser for braces for them. It’s been customized for kids over six years old.
For one, it’s made using high-quality, sturdy materials to hold up to childrens’ use. In addition, the power cable and electrical parts are more hidden to prevent children from tampering with them.
Besides, we all know that young kids aren’t the most careful group of people when it comes to electronics. So isolating the delicate components really comes in handy.
Another thing you’ll love about this water flosser is its user-friendliness. Some kids easily give up on using items that seem too complicated so the simple working mechanism, is a nice touch.
For kids who wear braces, removing buildup plaque can be pretty difficult. This is where the WP-260 comes into play. According to Waterpik, this unit is capable of removing up to 3 times more plaque and debris from areas that cannot be accessed using traditional flossing.
This is made possible through the 2 included tips, the Classic Jet Tip and Orthodontic Tip and 3 pressure intensity levels. The different pressure levels helps kids customize the flosser’s function based on the health of their teeth.
And to make the whole flossing experience fun, the flosser comes with 20 detachable cling decals. All of these decor tools feature kid-friendly graphics such as a soccer ball, turtle, ladybird beetle and more.
- PROS
- CONS
- No lid for the water tank
- Water reservoir can be improved
4. H2ofloss Dental Water Flosser for Teeth Cleaning
If you’re looking for a versatile and powerful water flosser, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one than H2ofloss HF-9 Whisper. This unit has all the bells and whistles you’d want for a flossing device, especially when designing for patients with braces.
Contrary to other water flossers that provide 2-3 pressure settings, this one provides 5 levels that range from low (L) to high (H). This means it’s suitable for different types of users.
Moreover, adjusting this pressure setting is fairly easy: just use the one-pause button on the handle. Note that this feature can also be used to stop the device.
Another aspect that makes this water flosser stand out is its capacity. It offers a large 800ml water reservoir, which can last up to 2 minutes per tank of water. And unlike the WP-260 that does not have a lid, the tank on the HF-9 Whisper does.
What’s more, this water flosser gives you up to 12 tips to work with. These include:
- 1 nasal spray tip,
- 4 jet tips,
- 2 orthodontic tips,
- 2 periodontal tips,
- 1 clean irrigation tip, and
- 2 tongue cleaning tips.
The best thing about these tips is that they’re all marked in different colors. This way, 4 different people can use the jet tips without worrying about mixing them up.
- PROS
- CONS
- Multiple tips with different colors
- Large water reservoir
- Silent operation; noise rating of 50 decibels
- Different pressure settings with easy-to-use controls
5. Puridae Water Flosser With 4 Jet Tips for Braces
For those who don’t want their water flossers taking up too much space in their bathrooms, the Puridae Dental Gum Flosser is the best cordless water flosser for braces.
This is also one of the most advanced water piks, boasting an ultra-quiet operation. Better yet, it has a waterproof design, making it easy to clean and use even when you’re in the shower. Still, it’s not advisable to keep it in water for a long period because this reduces its lifespan.
One thing that makes the Puridae one of the best water flosser for braces is the ease of charging. The flosser is fitted with versatile ports that can be used with a power bank, USB charger, laptop and car charger. So whether you’re camping or running late in the office, you’ll be able to charge the device and use it.
For a deep cleaning, the Puridae flosser uses high pressure water pulse of 1700 times per minute. It also has an interchangeable nozzle, which revolves 360 degrees to clean all the sections.
The package includes 3 nozzles, which are color-coded for use by different people.
- PROS
- CONS
- A lightweight, waterproof design
- Convenient ways of charging
- Cordless operation makes it perfect for travel
- Backed by CE, FDA and ROHS certification
6. Waterpik Complete Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush
Although this Waterpik unit costs nearly double the price of other water flossers, it has advanced features that make it worth every penny.
In particular, this model includes a sonic toothbrush which offers a better cleaning technique than conventional electric toothbrushes. This means that you have all the tools you need to maintain proper oral hygiene for braces.
The flosser and toothbrush combo blends water pressure and pulsations to clean thoroughly between the teeth and the areas below your gum line.
Given its efficiency and ease of use, this unit is perfect even for those with crowns, implants and periodontal pockets.
The storage compartment on this countertop model is another excellent addition. Here, you can keep your toothbrush and tips and prevent them from coming into contact with dust and debris.
Moreover, the sonic toothbrush comes with an ergonomic handle, which conforms to the contour of your hand. The handle is where the controls are positioned for easy access. You can choose from the two speed levels – one for gentle cleaning and the other for maximum plaque removal.
The travel case that this dental care unit comes with is the icing on the cake. This makes it incredibly easy and convenient to store your water flosser or toothbrush and use on the go.
- PROS
- CONS
- High volume water reservoir
- Comes with a travel case for convenient storage on the go
- Includes a rechargeable sonic toothbrush that’s more effective than a manual toothbrush
Best flosser for braces, answered!
If you have braces, you’ve probably spent a huge chunk of money investing in them. Therefore, it’s only fair that you take good care of them through brushing and flossing.
Even though cleaning your teeth is going to be a lot harder, it’s important that you do so to prevent diseases caused by poor oral hygiene.
For flossing, we recommend getting the Waterpik WP-660 water flosser. Often regarded as the best waterpik flosser for braces, it comes with numerous tips to suit different applications. It also has an ergonomic design.
But if you have a limited budget, you can go for the cheaper Gurin Professional Oral Irrigator, which is also one of the best water flosser for braces.