I’ve been dealing with dental problems since my childhood. I got braces in my late teens and often suffered from teeth sensitivity. Traditional flossing started becoming a nightmare for me after a point. It would hurt my gums more and more with every passing day. I had no other options but to switch to water flossing.
Waterpik appeared as the most sought-after brand on my web research, so I decided to opt for one of their products. Considering that I travel quite often and don’t have a huge countertop in my bathroom, I went for Waterpik WP-560. It is compact, portable, extremely handy and gives almost as good results as string flossing.
However, it doesn’t mean it will bear the same result for you. The reservoir capacity is nowhere near a regular counter-top flosser. But is the tank size the only striking difference? Is it powerful enough to force away plaque and food bits from the nooks and crannies of your teeth? We will find this out by the end of this article.
But before I start babbling about its specific features, let us take a quick look at the main features this tool has to offer.
Table of Contents
Specifications
| Features | Waterpik WP 560 |
|---|---|
| Pressure Settings | 3 |
| Flossing Capacity | 45 sec |
| Flossing Tips | 4 |
| Tip Rotation | 360 Degree |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
| Travel Friendly | Yes |
| Travel Bag | Yes |
| Voltage | Global |
| Battery indicator | LED |
| Fully Charge in | 4 Hours |
| ADA Approved | Yes |
| Price | Check Price |
Key Features
- 3 pressure settings: low, medium and high.
- Pressure range between 45-75 psi.
- 4 flossing tips including one for orthodontics like braces and crowns.
- 7 ounce or 210 ml reservoir capacity which lasts for 45 seconds of high-pressure flossing.
- 4-hour magnetic full charge.
- LED battery level indicator.
- 360-degree rotation tips for full mouth cleaning.
- Approved by American Dental Association (ADA).
- Electric pressure control.
What Is in the Box?
The product arrives neatly packaged in a quality travel pouch. You also get a separate storage bag for the brushes and tips. Although the quality of the travel pouch could be improved, I know I got exactly what I paid for.
The cordless device includes 4 flossing tips- two classic tips, one orthodontic tip for those who have braces like me and one Plaque Seeker tip specifically designed to clean dental implants.
The box also includes a magnetic charger. You just have to stick it to the unit and it will be fully charged in around 4 hours. There’s also a water plug included which will prevent leakage. You must be wondering what is the use of a water plug in a flosser like this? You’d empty the reservoir anyway before keeping the flosser back into your toiletry bag or pouch.
True but here’s a thing: the design of the water reservoir opening is a bit awkward. It is almost impossible to fully empty the tank just by shaking it off. Therefore, if you are using the oral irrigator while traveling, storing it in the pouch without putting on the plug may cause a water spillage in your bag.
Since we are on the topic, I’d also suggest you take off the water plug, detach the tank in order to air dry the inside before re-using the device. It’s not just the water leaking you should worry about, a half-empty tank will eventually lead to hard water stains inside the reservoir. You definitely don’t want that.
What Makes Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser Different?
I had used two water flossers before and none of them provided total oral care. I choose the lowest pressure setting on this as I have braces. The targeted gentle breeze of water thoroughly cleans my teeth and gum. The lowest pressure setting is also great for people with Gingivitis or other gum issues. By people, I mean half the adult population of the U.S. That’s huge!
One of the greatest things about this device is that you can use it under the shower as it is completely waterproof. For the cleaning purpose, I use warm water instead of cold as it feels more comfortable.
I also brush my teeth with a medicated, mildly abrasive toothpaste before flossing. If you don’t have any dental condition, just use your regular toothpaste. To complete your dental care routine, rinse your mouth with mouthwash after cleaning.
Many of you are wondering whether the small size of the tank would create a problem? For me, it doesn’t. It’s true that the tank runs out by the time I’m done cleaning only the lower set of teeth. I have to refill 3-4 times to complete flossing.
It doesn’t bother me much because refilling is really easy and the small stature of the flosser saves a lot of counter space in my bathroom. I’m willing to compromise this much for it.
Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser – A Detailed Review
Waterpik WP-560 comes with a self-contained reservoir, multiple cleaning tips, and several other features to help you achieve complete oral care.
The 360-degree rotating nozzle is designed to clean plaque, germs and food bits from the tight spaces. With the rotating tip, you can effectively clean your gums as well as the back of your teeth. This is not something you can expect from any regular water flosser in the market.
The brand Waterpik is the inventor of water flossing and they definitely know what’s best for their customers. It is a great oral irrigator for people with sensitive gum, teeth and those having braces, veneers, crowns or dental implants.
Here are a few notable features that make Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser value for money:
Electric Pressure Control
One of the most helpful features of this water flosser is its electric pressure control. As you might have already guessed, you can control the pressure output depending on your tooth and gum sensitivity.
The pressure output ranges from 45-75 psi. Compared to traditional table-top or stationary water flossers that provide 100 psi pressure, this may seem too weak. But trust me, it is not.
Even 75 psi washes away bacteria and food particles effectively if you use it daily and correctly. I have used a table-top flosser in the past and believe me when I say that my mouth feels much better after flossing with WP-560.
The targeted stream exerts just about enough pressure on my braces, teeth, and gum without being too forceful.
Self-contained Reservoir
Although the tank is too small for flossing in one go, it is still bigger than many of the older Waterpik models which can hold water for only 30 seconds. Compared to them, the tank in this model provides 45 seconds of usage time at the highest pressure setting.
Dentists recommend at least one minute of flossing every day. In order to do with this device, you will have to refill the tank about 3-4 times.
This might feel annoying sometimes. There are two ways to refill- one, by completely detaching the tank and two, by refilling through a small hatch on the tank. I use the hatch as it is easier to open and seal. But it is too small and therefore, takes a bit longer to fill the reservoir to the brim.
I can’t really blame Waterpik for utilizing a small tank in a flosser primarily designed for traveling purpose. A larger tank means you have to compromise with your bathroom countertop space, portability, and maneuverability.
Flosser Tips
The Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser comes with two Classic Jet tips, one Orthodontics Tip, and a Plaque Seeker tip. I have used all 3 types and all of them are as good as they are supposed to be. Nothing extraordinary, though.
I mostly use the Classic Jet Tip which is fully made of hard plastic. The two tips are thankfully color-coded and therefore, I can safely let my roommate use the flosser too.
The Orthodontics tip is a class of its own. When used correctly, it can remove 3x times more plaque than string flossing. The tapered brush on the tip is solely designed for thorough cleaning around the braces.
The Plaque Seeker tip, on the other hand, is best for dental implants, crowns and veneers. If used as suggested, it can clean almost 99% dental plaque in 3 seconds from the targeted area.
Changing the tips is a breeze as they easily attach to the flosser holder at the top of the unit. A clicking sound will indicate that the tip is perfectly locked into the position.
Waterproof
This is where Waterpik Cordless Advanced Water Flosser gets a clear advantage over counter-top models. The electrical bits of WP-560 is neatly isolated and will not be harmed by water. This makes it easy to include in daily morning routine and also helps you avoid water mess around the bathroom sink.
Noise-free Operation
The extra quiet operation of Waterpik also sets it high above many regular water flossers. Although it’s not completely noise-free, you won’t at least wake up your family members while flossing in the morning or night. That’s good enough for me.
Magnetic Charging
The magnetic rapid charging system of this model is unique and very useful. Although you’ll have to wait for 4 hours to get it fully charged, once that’s done, it will easily last for a couple of days. For charging the device, you will just have to magnetically attach the charger to the unit and wait.
There’s also an LED battery level indicator that blinks when the battery level is low. That way, you will never run out of charge when you’re about to use the flosser. I really hate it when a device runs out of battery when I’m about to use it.
What I Didn’t Like
As I said before, the tank size is quite small even for a single user. Refilling 4 times every morning and every night is kind of annoying.
Is Waterpik WP-560 Worth Buying?
The oral care benefits of this Waterpik model are truly worth appreciating. It is easy to use and provides hardcore cleaning without hurting your teeth. Like all the Waterpik models, the dental hygiene ability of this model is also clinically proven. I’m not saying that it functions better than traditional water flossers. However, if you live alone or solely need a flosser for traveling purpose, you can definitely give this product a try.
Pros:
- Supports global voltage, therefore can be used in any country.
- Easy to use.
- 4 flossing tips and 3 pressure settings to customize your flossing.
- 360-degree nozzle thoroughly cleans the inside of your mouth as well.
- Magnetic rapid charging system with a low battery indicator.
Cons:
- Tank size.
- Placement of the opening of the tank.
Wrap up
If you use this flosser daily for 14 days straight, you can get rid of gingivitis. That’s clinically proven. Also, you won’t have to spend tons to get healthier teeth, stronger gums, a brighter smile, and a fresher breath every day.
It indeed is an ideal choice for people who are serious about their dental hygiene but do not have enough space to install a bulky, stationary water flosser. Compact and powerful Waterpik WP-560 is a perfect companion for regular oral hygiene maintenance.
