Waterpik Cordless Advanced WP-560 Review

Design, usability, clean & general use

When you first get the Cordless Advanced water flosser out of the box, the first thing you notice is the size.

If you are not used to a cordless water flosser they are quite bulky.

They have to be to some extent due to the very nature of what they are.  There is a water tank, battery and pump all built into the unit.

It measures in at:

• Height (with nozzle) – 29.4cm / 11.60 inches
• Width – 7.1cm / 2.80 inces
• Thickness/depth – 10.2cm / 4.0 inches
• Weight (with nozzle) – 360g / 0.80Lbs

Most water flossers tend to have a curved design to the body.  Having handled many, this immediately feels more comfortable and grippy in hand.

This is down to the position of the water tank on this model. It is located towards the base of the unit. It doesn’t extend up the rear of the flosser quite as much as other products of this type.

This means is there is a larger surface area to grip onto. Covered with raised dots that really gives the fingertips something to hold onto.

Refer to the hands-on images to see what I mean.

A concern I have is the size. The anticipation might be that this will fit nicely in a bag when I go away for business or pleasure.

It will fit. But, if you are travelling light, say for a weekend break; this is a bulky unit to have in the bag.

It does come with a travel pouch.  And even a plug to put into the nozzle hole to stop and water leaking out. These are nice touches.

The benefits of being cordless are great. I would suggest you consider your lifestyle though. Assess whether a countertop flosser might be a better investment of your money.

Both cordless and countertop flossers have their place. What is right for one, may not be right for another.  You often get a few more features and longer usage time from the countertop options.  The Waterpik Ultra Professional (WP-660 and WP-662) is a great example.

Corded or cordless you need to be in a position to expel the water when you are using it.

The Cordless Advanced comes in 3 different colour options within the UK.

They are:

• White – WP-560A
• Black – WP-562A

I like the variety, rather than the basic, clinical, and inoffensive white.

The more standard white and black are most popular and sold in more places than the other options.

When you look at the unit head-on, it is the main button/control panel that stands out at you.

These buttons and notification lights are within a chrome silver teardrop shaped frame.  It looks smart.

A power button sits at the top, with a pressure/mode control button below.

The power button is a grey colour, made from a silicon material, and has a power icon debossed on it.  Circular in shape it is very easy to tell that this is the on/off switch.

Underneath these are the words High, Medium, and Low. They are stacked on top of each other with an LED between them.

The LED below each mode lights up once selected.

Waterpik labels these as modes, but you like me might prefer to call them pressure settings.

Each mode/pressure setting is slightly different. They offer more or less intense cleaning actions from the water flosser.

Press the pressure control button to change the pressure before powering the flosser on.

The mode button has a slightly concave design.  It is made from a silicone material and provides a good level of feedback to the fingertip when pressed.

Below this is a battery icon come charging LED that gives feedback on the battery power.

The remaining body of the unit is a smooth touch plastic.

At the front, just before the base of the unit is the Waterpik logo.

The rear of the unit is primarily made up of the water tank. It is a clear plastic.  There is a hinged cover over the opening to the tank.

The tank holds 207ml (7 ounces) of water and will give up to 65 seconds of usage time.

On the rear, towards the top of the flosser  are a series of raised dots. I mentioned these previously. They act as a grip for the fingers to keep the unit firmly in hand.

On the top of the unit is the detachable nozzle.

4 nozzles come provided in the box.

These can easily be removed and replaced by releasing the catch that holds them in place.  To do this you need to press the grey coloured eject/release button on the back of the unit, right at the top.

All the nozzles can be rotated a full 360 degrees. This allows you to gain maximum benefit from the flosser, and position the tip in the mouth at the ideal angle.

The dial that controls this rotation is super simple to use.  The best of any water flosser.  

Large ridges around the dial fitting make it easy for the finger to align and grip.  You can achieve quite finite control, with 1 or 2 clicks of the wheel. Or you can make a much larger sweep of the fingertip to move it up to 180 degrees at a time.  With as little as 2 passes of the finger, you can rotate the nozzle a full 360 degrees.

Such a feature should not be underestimated.  You have finite control, more so than when you are all fingers and thumbs with regular floss.

It will take a bit of practice to actually do when in use.  But you can use your index finger to twist the nozzle into the perfect angle to reach all areas of the mouth.

The 4 nozzles provided with this cordless option are:

• 2 x JT-450E – Waterpik Classic Water Flosser Tips
• 1 x OD-100E – Waterpik Orthodontic Tip
• 1 x PS-100E – Waterpik Plaque Seeker Tip

Coming in a little storage box, it is a neat way to stow the nozzles when not in use and when travelling.

For the vast majority, the classic tips are the best option to use.

If you wear braces, then the Orthodontic tip is useful.  Those with dental implants will find the Plaque Seeker tip most useful.

There are 3 additional styles of nozzle.  Each is designed for different use cases.

• PP-100E – Waterpik Pik Pocket Tips
• TB-100E – Waterpik Water Flosser Toothbrush Tips
• TC-100E – Waterpik Water Flosser Tongue Cleaner

The Pik Pocket tips are designed for those with Periodontal Pockets.

Any of these styles can be purchased and used with the Cordless Advanced.

You can find more information on each of the different tips here.

If you use the Classic tip, you should change this every 6 months on average.

The other tips should be replaced every 3 months.  

Countertop units offer up to 10 pressure settings.  These range from 10 to 100 PSI.

This has 3, low medium and high. They range between 45 and 75 PSI or 3.1 to 5.1 bar. 

For a gentle floss, use the low power.

For a more invigorating clean use high.

The 207ml tank offers up to 65 seconds of run-time, based on the lower gentle mode.

When on the high mode you get 45 seconds of usage time from the Cordless Advanced.

During use it produces up to 70 decibels and is quieter than some other models I have used.

The flosser continues to function, even if the tank is drained of all the water.  Although it will turn itself off after 2 minutes.  By which time the tank has long been drained. You will hear the sound change and you will notice the lack of water being pushed against your teeth and gums.

If you have perfected your flossing technique you should manage it in this time. But, for some, the high powered mode might not offer quite enough using time and a refill may well be necessary.

I  wouldn’t want a smaller water tank. It makes it tricky to complete a thorough clean on 1 fill of the tank.  You have to refill.

You can fill the tank via the hinged door on the outside. Or you can detach the water tank completely from the flosser.  To do so, you need to slide the switch on the bottom of the flosser to unlock it.  You then pull the tank away from the main body.

At the top of the unit is a hole into which you can pour any water or mouthwash you might want to use.

There is actually an ml/ounce measuring guide visible when you remove the reservoir.  

To refit, slide it on and lock it into place.

If you have not used a water flosser before, expect to take a few days to get used to it.  You may well make a mess in the process.

You need to be lent over a sink to floss.

When you fill the tank, the idea is you fill it with water, this can be cold or lukewarm if you prefer.  The advice is warm water. You could add a dash of mouthwash too if you wanted an extra burst of freshness.

Once powered on the pump inside the flosser will draw the liquid from the tank up and out through the nozzle on the top.  

The suggested technique is:

• Choose the pressure setting you want.
• Lean low over the sink and place the tip in the mouth.
• Aim the tip toward teeth, and turn the unit on.
• For best results, start with the back teeth and work toward the front teeth. Glide tip along gumline and pause briefly between teeth. Continue until you have cleaned the inside and outside of both the upper and lower teeth.
• Direct the jet stream at a 90-degree angle to your gumline. Slightly close lips to avoid splashing but allow water to flow freely from the mouth into the sink. Keep unit upright during use for best results.

Purse your lips around the nozzle to retain what liquid you can in your mouth.  The amount and pressure, will force you to expel this.

Unlike an electric toothbrush, there is no timer/pacer built in to help you ensure an even clean.  It will take a bit of trial and error to perfect the technique.

Once you have perfected the technique not only does it become easier, it’s less messy too.

Children from the age of 6 can use this, but their smaller mouths would struggle with the amount of liquid.  The flow is quite quick and it is only a matter of seconds before your mouth is full as an adult.

For those who prefer, you can actually use this in the shower, the unit is water-resistant.

You might be wondering how effective the Waterpik flosser is. This is a very valid query to have.

There has been lots of research by Waterpik to show the effectiveness of their flossers. Impressive stats are available on the clinical research pages of the Waterpik website.

A 2016 study found the water flosser to be 18% more effective than interdental brushes.

Failing to clean between the teeth and gums can lead to a buildup of bacteria and plaque. Unremoved this can turn can result in gum disease.

Whether you use interdental brushes, floss or an oral irrigator, the choice is yours.

The flow and pressure of the water from a water flosser reach bacteria deep between teeth and below the gumline. Brushing and traditional flossing can’t always reach this.

The flow of water will massage and stimulate the gums. This improves circulation and keeps your gums strong and healthy.

Although using a water flosser can be a little bit messy, I actually find it easier than other options.

It still requires a technique. But it feels a little easier to master, particularly in comparison to floss.

And I know I am not alone.  I have learnt of many people who use a water flosser. They would otherwise not stick to an interdental cleaning regime otherwise.

Dental professionals typically see the brushes as the ‘best’ option. They will advise a water flosser to be used in addition to these.

I found that I preferred the more powerful setting of the 3 offered. Those with sensitive gums may find the lower power setting to be better. 

Of course, you need to find the setting that is right for you.  Most important is to do some form of interdental cleaning, rather than skipping it.

I use the water flosser before brushing and it is amazing how much debris it removes. And that is the stuff I can see!

Using the flosser in this way feels like a clean of the mouth, even before you complete the brushing.

I talk more about it in the battery life section below.  But, the Cordless Advanced is easily recharged via the magnetic charging cable.  I like this a lot.  It takes up to 4 hours to fully recharge.

It will give approximately a weeks use between charges, according to Waterpik. But my hands-on testing resulted in much more positive results.

It can be recharged in just 4 hours, using the magnetic charging cable.  Read more about this in the ‘Battery Life’ section of this review.