Best water flossers

Top pick: Waterpik Aquarius — the countertop standard for daily home care. Ten pressure settings and seven tips let you start gentle on gums and build up, and the big reservoir means no refilling mid-clean. Best if you want one machine on the bathroom counter that does the job properly.

Who the others suit:

• Waterpik Ultra — same countertop idea, simpler controls, hugely well reviewed; good if you just want a no-fuss plug-in.
• Waterpik Ion — cordless with a magnetic charging cradle and six tips; best for small bathrooms or sharing.
• Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000 (cordless) — slim, 40-day battery, two modes; best for travel and tight sinks.
• AquaSonic Precision — five modes, eight pressure levels, 40-day battery; the budget cordless that still feels adjustable.
• usmile C10 — up to 95 days per charge; best if you hate charging things.
• Quip — two gentle modes, 60 seconds per fill; best for minimalists.
• Equate HydroClean — cheapest way to try water flossing at all.

Countertop models give steadier pressure; cordless ones trade a little of that for portability.