I totally relate to the hassle of countertop models—mine basically lives on the bathroom counter because packing it up just isn’t happening. I’ve actually bounced back and forth between cordless and countertop, and weirdly, my gums don’t seem to notice much difference as long as I’m consistent. The cordless one is definitely easier for travel or even just not dealing with a power cord, but sometimes I wonder if it’s as thorough.
I do use those little interdental brushes sometimes, especially if I feel like something’s stuck or if I skipped a day of water flossing (oops). It doesn’t feel like overkill to me, but maybe that’s because my dentist once showed me all the spots I was missing with just one tool. That was kind of eye-opening.
Has anyone here ever had their dentist actually show them where they’re missing? It made me rethink my whole routine.
Has anyone here ever had their dentist actually show them where they’re missing? It made me rethink my whole routine.
My kid’s dentist did this with those purple disclosing tablets, and wow... it was a wake-up call. I thought we were doing a decent job, but after that, we both realized there were way more spots getting missed than I’d guessed. It kind of made us both step up our game.
We use a cordless water flosser for my kid because it’s just easier to handle, especially with little hands. I get what you mean about wondering if it’s as thorough—sometimes I still go back in with regular floss for the stubborn spots. The countertop one is more powerful, but honestly, the hassle of setting it up every night means we just don’t use it as much.
Those little brushes are a lifesaver for braces, too. Not overkill at all—sometimes it’s the only way to get stuff out from around all the wires. Consistency really does seem to matter more than which gadget you use.
Consistency really does seem to matter more than which gadget you use.
That’s honestly been my experience too. I got a countertop water flosser after my first cleaning (the hygienist was... not subtle about what I’d missed), but it just sat there because dragging it out every night felt like a chore. Ended up switching to cordless—way less powerful, but at least I actually use it. I still get nervous before checkups, but since making that switch, my gums don’t bleed as much and the dentist seems happier. Maybe not perfect, but better than nothing.
I’m curious, has anyone tried getting their kids to use a water flosser? My daughter’s dentist keeps suggesting it, but I can barely get her to brush properly, let alone drag out a big machine every night. Is the cordless one easier for kids to handle, or do you think the lower power makes it less effective? I keep wondering if it’s worth pushing through the hassle or if sticking with regular floss is just as good for little ones.
We tried the cordless one for my son—honestly, he liked the novelty at first but got bored fast. It’s definitely lighter and less intimidating than the countertop version, but I do wonder if it’s really getting between his teeth as well as string floss would. Has anyone noticed an actual difference in dental checkups after switching their kids to water flossers?
