Keeping teeth clean is vital for good oral health, but will brushing alone achieve the best results? The simple answer is “no.” There are places between your teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is the addition to your routine that can help.
If you find this time-consuming, and also difficult to get to those gaps in the back teeth, there are solutions. Enter Airfloss vs Waterpik, but what are they?
Let’s take a look at how these products can help and compare their features and performance, to see which is best.
Airfloss vs Waterpik: Which Is Better?
| Name | Score | Pressure Settings | Tips Included | Duration | Safe to Use on Dental Work | Removes Large Food Particles | Portable | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEST VALUE |    |
Waterpik |  |
10
|
7
|
90 Seconds
|
 |
|
 |
 |
   |
AirFloss |  |
3
|
2
|
60 Seconds
|
|
|
|
|
Waterpik WP-660 Aquarius Water Flosser
|   |
|---|---|
| Pressure Settings | 10 |
| Tips Included | 7 |
| Duration | 90 Seconds |
| Battery Life | N/A Corded |
| Portable | |
| Removes Large Food Particles | |
| Safe to Use on Dental Work/Braces | |
| Accessories | Charger |
| Extra Features | None |
| Price | |
Pros
- Clinically proven to remove plaque and improve gum health.
- Seven different flossing tips.
- 10 power settings.
- Easy on/off control in the handle.
- Large water reservoir.
- Timers built in.
- Flossing and massage settings.
Cons
- Takes up bathroom space.
- Nowhere to store the spare tips.
- Not portable
Specifications
- Pressure range of 10 to 100 PSI (pounds per square inch).
- 13 ounces flow rate per minute.
- 1400 pulses per minute.
- 10 pressure settings.
- 7 tips for flossing.
- On/off water switch on the handle.
- Tip rotates through 360 degrees.
- Timer.
- Massage mode.
- LED light indicator.
- Covered 22-ounce reservoir.
- Measures 10.35 inches high by 4.7 inches wide by 3.8 inches deep.
- Weighs 1.46 pounds.
- 120V power.
- 36-month warranty.
Waterpik have been making products for personal and oral health care for over 50 years. This water flosser is one of them and its features include:
Proven Plaque Removal
This water flosser from Waterpik has been clinically proven to remove plaque. A study has also shown that water flossing improves gum health and reduces gingivitis when combined with tooth brushing.
Large Water Reservoir
This model comes with a large water reservoir. This will provide 90 seconds or more of flossing from one fill.
Different Flossing Tips
This comes with seven different tips for water flossing. If you have braces, you can choose the “orthodontic” tip, crowns and bridges will benefit from using the “plaque seeker” tip. The “pik pocket” tip cleans below the gumline, while the “classic jet” tip is good for general use.
10 Power Settings
There are also 10 different power settings, so you can find one as gentle or strong as you need, to suit your teeth. The unit can be set in two modes, flossing, and hydro-pulse massage. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t enjoy a massage, even if it is your gums.
Power Switches
The main power switch and water pressure control are located on the base unit. There is, however, an on/off water control conveniently set in the device handle for ease of use. The capacity of the water reservoir will last for 90 seconds, enough to floss all your teeth in one go.
Timers
A one-minute timer with a 30-second pacer is also built in. The information panel is illuminated by an LED light so you can easily see the settings you are choosing.
Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra
| |
|---|---|
| Pressure Settings | 3 |
| Duration | 60 Seconds |
| Battery Life | 14 Days |
| Portable | |
| Removes Large Food Particles | |
| Safe to Use on Dental Work/Braces | |
| Accessories | Nozzle Storage/Travel charger |
| Extra Features | None |
| Price | |
Pros
- Less mess due to less water.
- Easy to use.
- Cordless and portable.
- Good battery life.
- Powers off automatically.
- Same charger for other Sonicare products.
- Three burst settings.
- Can be used with mouthwash.
- LED indicator lights.
- Two-year limited warranty.
Cons
- It isn’t powerful enough for some users.
- The longevity of the product might be questionable.
Specifications
- Slim ergonomic design.
- Battery indicator with LED to show level.
- Battery life of two weeks.
- Two snap-on nozzles.
- Nozzle holder.
- Replacement nozzles available.
- Multi-voltage charger.
- Customizable burst setting.
- Offers one, two or three bursts of air and water.
- Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery.
- 24 hours to reach full charge.
- 90-day money-back guarantee.
- Two-year limited warranty.
Philips Sonicare is a well-known brand in the dental hygiene market. Airfloss is just one of the products the company makes. Philips also manufactures a number of electric toothbrushes which often feature highly-rated reviews.
Some of the main features of Airfloss are:
Internal Water Reservoir
Airfloss has a reservoir which can be filled with either water or mouthwash. This is integrated into the handle of the unit. If you do use mouthwash, be sure to rinse the unit thoroughly after use, to prevent damage.
Customized Air Bursts
The flossing action of this device can be set to deliver either one, two or three bursts of air and water. They can be set to activate manually or automatically and there are LED lights to indicate which setting it’s on. These features let you customize the flossing action to your personal preference.
Two Nozzles
It comes with two Airfloss Ultra high-performance nozzles which have been designed to remove food debris and plaque. The manufacturer recommends that a nozzle is changed after six months of use. So, essentially, you get a year’s worth of air flossing before you need to buy replacements.
Lithium-Ion Battery
The internal Lithium-ion battery is charged on a base and one charge can last up to two weeks.
Compatible Charging Base With Other Sonicare Products
More good news here is the base can also be used for Sonicare brand electric toothbrushes. This means just one charger in your bathroom.
Automatic Switch Off
The Airfloss also has an automatic switch-off after 4 minutes of inactivity, which is great if you forget to turn it off.
Removes Plaque
Airfloss is aimed at improving the dental health of people who either don’t floss or floss intermittently. Dependent on which burst setting is used, the company claims it can remove up to 99 percent of plaque from treated teeth surfaces.
Quick Flossing
Flossing can be completed in under a minute. Along with your daily brushing routine, it will give you healthier teeth and gums.
Warranty
Philips offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, plus a two-year limited warranty on this product.
How Do Airfloss and Waterpik Differ?
There are also several differences between these two popular flossers.
Air vs Water
The Waterpik uses water pressure alone to remove plaque and clean teeth and gums. The Airfloss uses bursts of air, with just a small amount of water to get the job done.
Mouthwash
Airfloss can be used in conjunction with mouthwash instead of water but Waterpik can only be used with water.
Floss Heads
Waterpik has seven different floss heads to choose from, depending on your teeth and needs. Airfloss only has one type, although it does supply two of these. On the subject of floss heads, the spare one for Airfloss can be stored on the base but there is only storage for two of the seven supplied in the Waterpik.
Mess
If you don’t use either of these devices properly, then both your bathroom mirror — and you — can get covered in water. However, this is less likely with the Airfloss as there is less water involved in the process.
What Do Airfloss and Waterpik Have in Common?
Easier to Use Than String Floss
Users find both these flossers easier to use than string floss. For this reason, they are more likely to floss regularly.
Improvement in Overall Dental Health
Both devices, when used in conjunction with regular tooth brushing, appear to improve the overall dental health of users.
Water Reservoir
Both units have a water reservoir, although the one on Waterpik is in the base unit and the one for Airfloss is in the handle.
Final Verdict: Which Is Better Airfloss or Waterpik?
We have highlighted the benefits of using both of these dental devices. The bottom line is that flossing improves the health of your mouth and both of these can help you achieve that.
Time for some statistics, who doesn’t like to read proof that something works.
A study was carried out on 82 people, half of whom used Waterpik, while the others used Airfloss. Both groups combined flossing with manual tooth brushing.
The percentages of plaque reduction were Waterpik 74.9 percent and Airfloss 57.5 percent for the whole mouth. The percentages recorded for Waterpik were better across all tooth surfaces than those for Airfloss.
For these reasons, Waterpik is our winner out of these two flossing devices. Add to its effectiveness an in-mouth massage and you will start your day with a happy mouth and clean teeth.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, but one sure thing is that flossing is important for the health of your teeth and gums.
What Are Airfloss and Waterpik?
In a nutshell, these are devices that floss between your teeth using either air or water. Before we check out the individual products, let’s look, in general, at what each of these can do and why they might be of benefit.
How Does a Water Flosser Work?
This device uses a pressurized stream of water to remove plaque and remnants of food. It works between the teeth and under the gumline.
To use it, you fill its reservoir with water. There are different tips which can then be attached to the device–these can be for general use, braces, crowns and bridges, or gums. Select the one which is best suited to your needs.
Set the water pressure and put the flosser in your mouth. You can then turn it on and let the water go to work flossing your teeth.
What Are the Advantages of Using a Water Flosser?
There are several benefits of using a water flosser, which include:
Are There Disadvantages in Using a Water Flosser?
There is, unfortunately, always the bad that goes with the good and there are some downsides to using a water flosser. These include:
How Does Airfloss Work?
Airfloss uses a stream of air, incorporating a few droplets of water, to remove plaque from between your teeth.
Like the water flosser, it has a water reservoir but it’s much smaller. It’s recommended you use lukewarm water to fill the reservoir. You then press the power-on button and place the tip of the device between your teeth.
By pressing an activation button, a burst of air and water blasts debris from between the teeth. Move the device to the next tooth and repeat until all the spaces have been cleaned. The tip of the device helps guide it along the gumline.
What Are the Advantages of Using Airfloss?
Advantages of using air to floss include:
Are There Disadvantages to Using Airfloss?
Again, just like a water flosser, there are disadvantages to Airfloss. These include:
Why Is It Important to Floss?
Cleaning between your teeth, or interdental cleaning, is important to keep your mouth, and teeth, healthy. Toothbrushes generally don’t reach the spaces between the teeth. This can cause a buildup of plaque as bacteria multiply without being disturbed. The culmination of this can lead to gum disease and bleeding.
There are many interdental cleaning devices, of which Waterpik and Airfloss are just two. A dental professional can help you choose which are the best options for you.
This video explains that either water or air flossing improves dental health.
