Most people know that it is recommended you visit a dentist twice a year for regular dental check-ups. This often includes a visit to the dental hygienist who will diligently remove plaque build-up and tartar from your teeth. Often you will leave your dental visit with strict instructions to floss after cleaning your teeth morning and night.
Some of us have practicality issues with flossing teeth with old fashioned dental floss; dexterity with maneuvering one’s hands and fingers to guide the fabric between your teeth to remove the offending material is a common complaint with those that suffer from arthritic hands, for example. This is where water flossers become particularly useful and almost imperative to your daily dental hygiene routine at home, which can also be rather enjoyable.
Whereby previously, this technology was not readily available for home use, there is now an array of water flossers on the market. We aim to help you make the right decision for your dental hygiene needs by assessing the best water flossers in Canada.
30-Second Review
Waterpik Aquarius wins the prestigious award of being our best overall water flosser in Canada. It is slightly more expensive than some on this review list, but the extra expense is worth it since you get a bunch of added extras in a sleek design that will suit any bathroom. The fact that this product includes a variety of specialized tips and not just the regular water flossing tip is a massive plus in addressing several issues you may have in one household of users of the product. Being able to swivel the tip around for added reach in hard to access places makes this all the more attractive. Waterpik is the industry leader in this water flossing technology; top quality and reliability have thousands happy using their products. Reasonably priced, powerful and versatile.
Best Water Flossers In Canada 2020 –
- Best Overall – Waterpik Aquarius
- Best Value – Waterpik Classic
- Most User-Friendly – Philips Sonicare Airfloss
- Most Innovative – Waterpik Sonic-Fusion Flossing Toothbrush
- Best for Travel – Waterpik Cordless Advanced
| Name | Pressure Settings | Cordless |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Waterpik Aquarius | 10 | ✗ |
| 2. Waterpik Cordless Advanced | 3 | ✓ |
| 3. Waterpik Sonic-Fusion Flossing Toothbrush | 10 | ✗ |
| 4. Philips Sonicare Airfloss | 1 | ✓ |
| 5. Waterpik Classic | 6 | ✗ |
| 6. Waterpik Water Flosser for Kids | 3 | ✗ |
Benefits Of Water Flossers
- Water flossers are easier to use when compared to string floss
- The water flow manages to floss hard to reach places
How does a water flosser work?
As you may have experienced with regular fabric dental floss, you need to wrap the floss around your teeth, in the gaps between your teeth and use hand-driven motion to erode the plaque and tartar build-up. This can be particularly frustrating and tricky for those who struggle to grip small objects and have a loss of movement in their hands or fingers for various reasons.
A water flosser is a mechanized dental hygiene instrument that utilizes a pulsating flow of pressurized water that streams into the gaps between your teeth and the gum line to remove the offending particulars that can cause gingivitis, gum disease or cavities. Easy to use and requiring no fiddly fingers in your mouth, you simply grip the handle and point – using a mirror – to the areas requiring attention.
Best Water Flossers Canada 2020 Reviewed
1. Waterpik Aquarius
Waterpik was not only the inventor of the water floss technology but also the first water flosser on the market to have the American Dental Association seal of approval. This product claims to remove 99% of plaque from the treated parts of the mouth and is proven in over 70 ongoing scientific studies. This product comes with three flosser jet tips, an orthodontic tip for braces, a special tip for other dental work, a toothbrush tip, and ten different pressure settings. Not only do the tips rotate 360 degrees, but this product has specially designed technology for massaging your gum and pulse modulation for plaque removal. Overall, this product is very popular with users who are familiar with water flossers, giving the Waterpik Aquarius a big thumbs up!
- Highly rated
- Top-quality guaranteed and backed by scientific studies
- Having too many pressure settings can cause confusion
2. Waterpik Cordless Advanced
With the reliable Waterpik brand quality and accompanying the American Dental Association seal of approval, this design is more mobile and less noisy than others. If you are a frequent international traveller, then this product is definitely for you. There is no need to fuss with voltage convertors as this cunning machine takes care of that for you with multiple compatibility aspects. After a few hours of charge, you can get several weeks; some feedback suggests up to a month of usage on one full charge. This product only comes with four tips and three pressure settings; however, this may reduce confusion with what pressure to use.
- Magnetic rapid charge system
- Can be used globally due to being compatible with 100 – 240/VAC and 60/50 Hz
- Extra quiet design
- Only 45 seconds of water capacity per use
- Limited to 3 pressure settings
3. Waterpik Sonic-Fusion Flossing Toothbrush
Waterpik is the industry leader in product innovation backed with scientific testing, making this brand a purchase you can trust. This design combines an electric toothbrush and a water flosser in a sleek and simple design. Three modes cater for whether you want to floss, brush, or floss and brush, with the ten different pressure options. Only two water flossing and tooth brushing heads are included, so it is advisable to find a stockist for replacements or buy an additional couple of spares.
- Combination of an electric toothbrush and water flosser
- Compact for travel, with a travel case
- Higher priced compared to other water flossers
4. Philips Sonicare Airfloss
This design has dual-purpose technology as either a water flosser or an air flosser. The water flossing docking station and the reservoir is undoubtedly one of the smallest and less obtrusive designs we have seen on the market. The reservoir gives you 30 seconds of liquid, but the handles get re-filled in only 10 seconds. There may only be one pressure mode, but there are four different frequencies of water bursts; single, double, triple and continuous.
- Easy to use air floss
- Utilizes triple burst of air and liquid
- The design is not robust enough and doesn’t last very long
- Expensive
5. Waterpik Classic
Despite being smaller than similar products, only having six different pressure settings, and coming with only three tips, this water flosser is sleek and packs the expected Waterpik punch. This unique design includes a specialty reservoir for those that need to use mouthwash after water flossing. The grip of the water flosser handle is where you control the different pressure settings, which is really handy for those that have areas of differing sensitivity since you are able to interchange between pressures without stopping your flow of water flossing routine.
- Super compact design
- Reservoir converts to a dust cover and protector after use
- The small design may be too hard to grip for some users
6. Waterpik Water Flosser for Kids
This design is compact and easy to use and can be used by children aged six years old and upwards. The specially designed orthodontic tip is ideal for any kind of dental work such as braces or implants. The flip-over lid function is used as a dust guard and hygiene protector. This product has a dual-purpose lid. This design is also travel-friendly not only size-wise but also with its inbuilt power adaptability capacity.
- Global voltage capacity
- Orthodontic designed tip for dental work and retainers
- Only 1 of each tip included
- The switch on the handle rather than the base makes it a bit tricky to use
What To Look For When Buying A Water Flosser
American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval
The primary element to look for when purchasing a water flosser is the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. This means that the apparatus has undergone clinical trials that have resulted in scientific data from laboratory-based tests to provide conclusive data about how effective the water flosser is at removing plaque and tartar from your mouth.
How To Maintain A Water Flosser
Your water flosser is something that will come into contact with your mouth and therefore, cannot be exposed to harsh chemicals, not fit for human consumption. It is commonly recommended that the use of white vinegar be the best cleaning solution for your water flosser. White vinegar is a well-known, homemade cleaning ingredient for a variety of purposes. If you do not like the smell (although it is relatively indistinct), you can add a few drops of lemon juice or mint essence to the solution.
Please refer to your model’s instruction before dismantling any units and removing any parts.
Cleaning the tip – Weekly
This is the most crucial part of your cleaning routine as the tip must be hygienic and free from bacteria. Tips do require being replaced – depending on your model – anywhere between three to six months, especially if your water has high calcium or mineral content, which can clog your tip.
Simply detach the tip from your handpiece and submerge in a glass of warm solution mix of two-parts water and one-part white vinegar. Hydrogen peroxide can be supplemented for the white vinegar should you require a stronger cleaning solution. Soak the tip for 5 to 10 minutes.
The following elements can be cleaned on a monthly basis. However, to prevent bacteria from building up, you should empty the unit of all water and blow dry air out of the flosser tip to prevent water from stagnating between uses.
Cleaning the handles – Countertop version
Firstly, make sure your handle is waterproof and can be submerged in water. Using the same quantities as the tip, but in a separate glass, also soak your handle for 5 to 10 minutes.
Internal cleaning
Depending on your model, add two tablespoons of white vinegar with warm water and fill the water reservoir. Run this solution through your unit entirely and then a second time with just clean warm water.
Cleaning the water reservoir
Please take note of the model’s instructions on taking the machine apart. Take care of any valves that need to be detached when taking them off, but also remembering how they go back on!
The outside unit
This is a simple wipe down with a non-abrasive cloth. Splash marks are the most common culprit, so even using a small amount of standard bathroom cleaners spray on a cloth will suffice.
Conclusion
With so many options on the Canadian market, we have reviewed a variety of designs and brands, with the Waterpik continuing to be clear industry leaders in this technology and providing top quality, reliable products. We hope after reading this review you might have gained more insight and knowledge to choosing the right water flosser for your teeth.