The splash zone is no joke—my first time using a Waterpik, I ended up with water all over my shirt and the counter. It’s definitely a bit of a circus, especially with kids. I agree, though, nothing beats the Waterpik for getting around wires and brackets. For daily use, I lean toward the Sonicare too. The timer and pressure settings make it pretty much foolproof, even when I’m half awake. Still, I keep the Waterpik around for those days when popcorn or something sticky gets stuck in impossible places... it’s saved me more than once.
The Waterpik splash zone is legendary at my house too—my bathroom mirror’s seen better days. I totally get what you mean about it being a full-on circus, especially when my niece tries to use it and somehow manages to get more water on the dog than in her mouth.
Still, I can’t deny the Waterpik’s power when it comes to getting stuff out from between brackets. I had braces as an adult (never again, by the way), and regular floss just wasn’t cutting it. The Sonicare is my go-to for the daily routine, though. That timer feature is a lifesaver for those mornings when I’m basically brushing in my sleep. But for stubborn popcorn kernels or those mystery “what even IS that?” moments, the Waterpik is the only thing that works.
Honestly, I don’t think there’s a clear winner—it’s more like they each have their moment to shine. If only someone would invent a Waterpik that doesn’t turn the bathroom into a slip-and-slide...
Totally agree about the Waterpik circus—mine’s basically a water feature at this point. Quick question: have you tried adjusting the pressure or angle? Sometimes folks go full blast and that’s when the bathroom gets soaked. For braces, though, I’ve never seen anything beat the Waterpik for blasting out the stubborn stuff. Sonicare’s timer is great, but I wish it could zap away the toothpaste splatter too... anyone else end up with a Jackson Pollock mirror after brushing?
“anyone else end up with a Jackson Pollock mirror after brushing?”
That cracked me up—my mirror is basically modern art after every session. I’ve tried being careful, but even with the Sonicare, toothpaste goes everywhere. I think it’s the combo of foamy paste and the brush’s speed… no matter how closed my mouth is, there’s always some escape artist splatter.
As for the Waterpik, I had to learn the hard way about pressure and angle. First week, it was like I’d installed a mini fountain in my bathroom. Once I dialed it back and aimed more parallel to my gums, things got way more manageable. For braces, though, yeah—nothing else really compares. My kid had brackets for two years and the Waterpik was the only thing that got all the gunk out from under those wires.
I do wish there was a gadget that combined the best of both. Until then, I guess I’ll keep a towel handy and pretend I’m just adding character to my bathroom decor.
“First week, it was like I’d installed a mini fountain in my bathroom.”
Relatable! My daughter’s first try with the Waterpik ended up with water everywhere—walls, mirror, even her shirt. Once she got the hang of it, though, it really did make cleaning around her braces so much easier. I keep a pack of wipes nearby for the aftermath... kind of just part of our routine now.
