Research has shown that using an electric water flosser is a much more effective way of flossing between your teeth. These days, you can get an electric toothbrush and flosser combined into one unit which seems like a great idea.
The Waterpik WP-900 is an all-in-one electric toothbrush and water flosser, designed to clean below the gum line and remove plaque and debris that toothbrushes can’t reach. As one of the most popular and best-reviewed models on the market, the product has a lot of desirable features including a range of different jet tips, a high-volume water reservoir and a number of different speed options. The reservoir contains up to 90+ seconds of water usage which prevents the need to refill the unit while in use.
Other features include a flow rate of 400 mL per minute, and offers a bristle speed which is up to 25% faster than other brands. There’s covered storage for the brushes and water reservoir in a compact and well-designed unit. As a space saver, it only requires one electric outlet and therefore can easily be accommodated in the bathroom.
Benefits include a pause function during flossing, easy to use handles and different brush speeds those make it suitable for everyone to use. It’s flexible enough for those with implants, bridges or braces. There’s also a periodontal tip which can be used for cleaning out dental pockets in the mouth. The unit is completely rechargeable and has a travel case, making it easy for it to be taken on trips or holidays.
Let’s take a look in detail at what you get:
Table of Contents
Waterpik Complete Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush features
- Removes plaque – This device effectively removes the plaque and debris between the teeth and below the gum line that standard toothbrushes can’t reach.
- Different jet tips – What’s nice about this model is the variety of jet tips you get, which I’m guessing would cater for most people. The different options include:
- Classic jet— Best for everyone and for regular use, both morning and evening.
- Plaque seeker— Ideal if you have any form of implant such as a bridge or a crown. It’s particularly well suited to reach the spots which are very tricky to clean.
- Orthodontic— Best for users with braces. It’s up to 3 times more effective at removing any build up of plaque and debris around braces.
- Pik pocket – Suited for cleaning out periodontal pockets.
- Hygenic high-volume water reservoir -[easyazon_link identifier=”B0095IMNI0″ locale=”US” tag=”oralch-20″] The Waterpik WP-900[/easyazon_link] comes with a covered water reservoir so if you’ve not used all of the water in the unit, it’s pretty safe to leave it until next time. It roughly contains up to 90+ seconds of water which should be sufficient for one round of water flossing.
- Brush storage – Again, great for hygiene reasons. There’s storage for the brushes so you don’t need to worry about germs or leaving the brushes around in your bathroom.
- Speed variation – The wp-900 has 10 different speed options which are ideal if you need everything from something more gentle for sensitive mouths through to fast and firm.
- Travel carrier – Perfect for taking with you when you’re out and about or going on holiday.
- Space saving – As it’s an all-in-one, it only requires one outlet in your bathroom.
- Fast flow rate & bristle speed – Flow rate is 400mL per minute, bristle speed is 25% faster than some other brushes.
- Rechargeable – Both the toothbrush and water flosser are rechargeable.
- 2 year warranty: The device is covered by a 2 year warranty which gives users peace of mind.
- Compact: Probably one of the reasons why water flossers haven’t really taken off yet is due to the bulk and size of the unit. The Waterpik WP 900 is neatly compact so has an advantage over some of the competitors.
How does the flosser work?
Fairly simply. Fill the reservoir up with water and choose the flosser tip best suited to your needs. Then open your mouth and point the tip at your gums, and turn the flosser on. It’s best to use room-temperature water as very cold water can be painful if you have sensitive teeth. The warmer the water, the more comfortable it will be to use. Note that flossers can be a little messy so make sure you use it in your bathroom.
What do the reviews say?
All of the above sounds great, but how good is the WP-900? On the plus side, it has had some very favourable reviews from people. Thumbs up have been given to the following:
- Easily removable tips: Changing between type of tips is simple and easy to manage.
- Pause function: Being able to pause the floss is really helpful if you need to switch position.
- A deep clean: By using the water flosser, users realised that using a toothbrush alone wasn’t enough. Water flossing really does help to get rid of any hidden plaque/bits lurking in your mouth that your toothbrush can’t get to.
- Convenient: It’s small and compact and easy to store in your bathroom without taking up too much space.
- Family-friendly: It’s simple and easy to operate, so ideal for everyone to use.
- Excellent capacity: The water reservoir holds a decent amount of water, enough for flossing in one go. The last thing you don’t have to fill up the water reservoir during a floss, which you may have to do with some other smaller models.
And what’s not so great?
The Waterpik wp-900 battery does have a limited life (1-2 years), which some users have felt that they have to purchase an new model when the old battery dies. That does seem fairly short, as I’d like to think my toothbrush can last more than two years. You might have to buy a new one, but also you can get the batteries replaced if you remove the seal on the unit.
One of the downsides of using a water flosser (I know to my own cost), that they can be a tad messy. So it’s probably best not to use this while you’re wearing your workout – do your flossing with the Waterpik wp-900 before you get dressed.
Firmness of the brushes also seems to have been a little bit of an issue – if you’re used to with something quite firm then this might not be the model for you.
While it’s fairly compact, it’s not probably as portable as users might like.
Should I buy one?
If you’re wondering, why should I even bother with water flossing? My electric toothbrush seems to do a really good job on it’s own. From what I’ve read, electric flossers are now much more effective than nasty old string floss, and seem to have support from dentists. One study by the University of Nebraska found that a water flosser was 93% much effective at removing stubborn plaque than wax floss. That would be a good enough reason alone to invest in a combined electric toothbrush/flosser and ensure your mouth is even more healthy.
Reviews of this particular product are pretty positive and encouraging. Notwithstanding the short battery life, this looks like it contributes to a healthier mouth and better dental hygiene and that alone suggests it’s a good buy.
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