Our Verdict
Arguably the best water flosser available today.
This countertop unit offers fantastic performance, box contents, and features. It is just a little more expensive than I would like.
Pros
- Excellent cleaning performance
- Choose between 10 different pressure settings
- Various tips included for individual specific needs
- Rotating nozzle for easier control
- Stylish design & compact footprint
Cons
- Requires mains power to function
- Compact – but does require countertop space
- Water flossing can be messy – need to be lent over a sink
- Price – a premium option
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Waterpik Ultra Professional Water Flosser - White | 357 Reviews |
$ 188.40 |
View on Amazon |
The 3 BIG questions about the Waterpik WP-660
If you are short of time, the answers to the following 3 questions should let you know all you need to about the Waterpik Professional. If I have missed something, let me know in the comments.
If you want more detail, you can read my full Waterpik review further down the page.
1. Is there anything drastically wrong with this water flosser
No, definitely not.
It is one of the best countertop units available today and there is very little I can fault with it.
2. Which other water flossers should I consider?
If you are looking for a countertop water flosser, then truthfully I think there is little reason to really consider any others, because the Aquarius is so good.
In fact, this water flosser is the one we recommend as the best overall water flosser.
Unless you have a specific need for a cordless flosser, or want a feature not available on the Ultra Professional should you consider something else.
3. Where is the best place to buy the WP-660 by Waterpik?
Water flossers are not as widely ranged as toothbrushes but may be able to purchase from the larger pharmacies both online and on the high-street.
Alternatively there is always Amazon.
Why should you listen to us?
Electric Teeth is an independent website with a mission to simplify dental health.
Our team is a mixture of consumers and dental professionals.
We strive to create honest, informative content, telling you the facts, good or bad.
We are not sponsored by big brands or healthcare companies. Our site is funded by affiliate revenue and ads, but we only recommend products that we have tested and truly believe to be worth your money.
Why not watch this short video to find out all about us?
Video Review
The following video is the UK version of the Ultra Professional. There are subtle differences, notably price and power supply. But the general message is the same.
And now for a bit more detail…
There will always be arguments for and against flossing be that with string or water.
Evidence will favour both sides and there will always be the dramatic headlines that say you need to or don’t bother flossing.
Make your own judgement cal,l but general advice is that it is better to floss, if precautionary more than anything. Those who do floss typically suffer less with gum disease and similar gum related issues.
Sting floss is cheap, but it is awkward. Interdental brushes are a great alternative but it still takes time
Water flossing on the other hand typically takes a lot less time once the technique has been mastered and it can be as effective.
Although water to floss is something that has actually been around for a long time it is not all that heavily promoted, but they are slowly becoming more common.
US firm Waterpik are the market leaders and regularly allow for their products to be tested and critiqued and have generally won the backing of many dental professionals worldwide.
What is the Waterpik Ultra Professional Water Flosser?
This is a countertop water flosser.
It has to be connected to mains power to be used and cannot be used wirelessly.
Taking water from a refillable on board tank, the pump inside the flosser takes that water and feeds it out through a nozzle on the handle of the flosser.
The water jet that exits the flosser can be altered in its pressure, the angle at which it is directed and more.
An alternative to string floss, the water passes in between teeth and gums as well as under the gumline to remove plaque, bacteria and food particles that make up the 35% of teeth surfaces that do not get cleaned with regular brushing.
Manufactured by the market leading brand, clinical trials have resulted in significant improvements in oral health, including a 93% improvement in reducing bleeding and up to 52% better at reducing gingivitis than traditional dental floss.
How to use the Waterpik WP-660UK Water Flosser
There is certainly a technique to using a water flosser.
The mains steps are as follows
- Step 1: Fill the water tank/reservoir with lukewarm water (tank can be lifted out and replaced).
- Step 2: Fit the appropriate nozzle to the handle of the flosser ensuring it has clipped into place.
- Step 3: Adjust the pressure dial on the unit to your desired pressure level (can be adjusted later). If it’s your first time using, turn down to a lower setting.
- Step 4: Press the power button to switch the unit on.
- Step 5: Lean over the sink and place the tip of the flosser into your mouth. Close the lips enough to prevent splashing while still allowing water to flow from mouth into the sink.
- Step 6: Slide the switch on the handle from off to on, the water will begin to flow.
- Step 7: Aim water at the gumline at a 90 degree angle. Follow the gumline and pause briefly between teeth.
- Step 8: When complete, slide the button to ‘off’ and then press the power button to turn it off.
During the clean you can adjust the pressure, turn the nozzle and control water flow by sliding the switch to the on or off position during the clean.
Why not see how it is done on video:
Variants of this water flosser
There are 2 versions of this flosser. The difference is the colour of the unit, one is White and one is Black.
The WP-660A is the White colour option whilst the WP-662A is the Black coloured unit.
It is the WP-662Athat I am testing in this review.
The White is the more popular colour option.
You may see the model number with the letters A after them, I.E WP-660A.
This is to identify that this is a version made for Australia that comes with the appropriate 2 pin plug and power adapter.
Aside from the colour there are no other differences between these units.
I will refer throughout to both these models.
What’s in the box?
- Water Ultra Professional Water Flosser
- 3 x Classic Jet tips
- 1 x Plaque Seeker tip
- 1 x Orthodontic tip
- 1 x Pik Pocket tip
- 1 x Toothbrush tip
- Documentation
Key Features
- Advanced pressure control system with 10 settings
- Reservoir capacity of 600ml lasting 90+ seconds
- On/Off water control on handle
- 2 Modes – Floss Mode and Hydro-Pulse Massage Mode
- 1-minute timer with 30-second pacer
- LED information panel
- Enhanced pressure performance with 10% more water pressure
- Two-year warranty
Pro & Cons
Here are what I consider to be the pros and cons of the Waterpik WP-660.
The Positives
- Clean – It feels like it has cleaned well without the harshness of traditional floss with clinically backed results.
- Pressure settings – Adjust it to what you like with 10 different settings there is a lot of control.
- Box contents – Good box contents with multiple tips.
- Rotating nozzle – Gain greater control of the tip with the 360 degree rotating nozzle.
- Size & Design – Despite being bigger than most would ideally want it has been fairly well designed to keep a small profile and different colour options. Decent sized water tank too.
The Negatives
- Mains power – It requires mains power to work.
- Size – Fairly compact all things considered but it does take up countertop space. Might not be ideal if space is at a premium.
- Messy – Not a product con as such but more as a result of how water flossers work, it can take some time to get used to the right technique and avoid making a mess. You will need to be lent over a sink.
- Price – This is a fairly expensive unit. Cheaper alternatives do exist.
Design, usability, clean & general use
This is not the most exciting product you will ever unbox, the packaging is fairly standard for this type of product.
The outer box has lots of strong marketing messages and product features highlighted. While this can be overbearing at times, at least it is well laid out and easy to distinguish.
Some packaging is so basic you really can’t get much info about a product before you buy it.
Testing out the WP-662 here for this review, the box was colour matched which is nice to see.
Once unboxed you will notice the unit is not small but actually nicely sized and well designed given that there is a 600ml tank built into it.
On the top is a lid which lifts up and locks into place to allow the clear water tank (complete with ml and Oz markings) be lifted out and filled.
The tank has a valve which seals closed until it is firmly pressed back into the unit at which point the seal opens to allows water to flow into the pipework ready for pumping out of the nozzle.
7 different tips come supplied with the Ultra Professional as you will see in the box contents listing.
The nozzles that are provided are:
- 3 x JT-100E – Waterpik Classic Water Flosser Tips
- 1 x OD-100E – Waterpik Orthodontic Tips
- 1 x PS-100E – Waterpik Plaque Seeker Tips
- 1 x PP-100E – Waterpik Pik Pocket Tips
- 1 x TB-100E – Waterpik Water Flosser Toothbrush Tips
There only other nozzle that is not supplied is the:
- TC-100E – Waterpik Water Flosser Tongue Cleaner
It is worth noting that the likes of the toothbrush tip actually came in black colour to match the unit I am using. Other variants come with white coloured tips. Sourcing a black coloured toothbrush tip as a separate accessory is very difficult.
Each tip works best in different scenarios.
The classic tip and toothbrush is best for most everyday use.
If you have braces, the orthodontic tip is ideal.
Pik pocket tip is suited to those with periodontal pockets and furcations.
Those with implants, crowns, retainers and bridges will likely see best results from the plaque seeker tip.
The left hand side of the unit has a plastic panel that leads up to the hinging for the lid. When opened and the tank removed, just inside are 2 holes into which your most used tips can be stored.
This is a neat solution, but does not give a home to all 7 tips. A 3rd could remain fitted to the handle.
Waterpiks other model, the Ultra, is better equipped to store multiple heads.
For most, users there will be favoured heads and not all will need and want all so you will have to make your decision as to what is most suitable for you.
Under the water tank is the main body of the unit that houses the pump and electrics. This is encased in the smooth to touch plastic.
There are 5 rubber feet on the flosser slightly raised off the worktop.
Sitting at the front of the unit (slightly off centre to the right) is the main nozzle/handle.
Docked into a little holder the length of hose coils into a recess within the body of the flosser. You have about 100cm of length from the tip of the nozzle to the hose running into the flosser. That is enough length for most.
The hose is colour matched too and the handle is accented with nice silver/grey switches. The blue and grey variants have white hoses, so these are not colour matched to the unit.
On the side is a sliding switch to release the nozzle which on the front is a much larger and clearly market On/Off slider. This controls the water flow.
The handle is rounded and tapered and fits nicely in the hand. Although smooth there is a contour to the plastic that helps with grip and there are 3 ridges on the water control slider switch.
At the top of the handle is where the detachable nozzle fits and the upper section of the handle can be rotated a full 360 degrees to position the nozzle tip precisely.
The ridged texture to this rotating dial is very useful to help the fingertip grip onto and control the tip rotation whilst in use.
To the left are more controls. A raised power button actually turns the unit on and off.
A concave button below switches between ‘Floss’ and ‘Massage’ mode.
Below this is a largish knob that can be rotated to match up with the 10 pressure settings available.
The rear of the unit has the power outlet cable that stretches to about 140cm.
A 2 pin connector is found on the end to connect to the sockets found in homes across Australia.
When it comes to actually using the steps you need to take are outlined earlier in this review.
However, there are some things to note and be aware of that help you and improve your use.
It is not essential, but recommended to use lukewarm water. This is because it is more pleasant on your gums when flossing.
You can use mouthwash but it would be expensive and wasteful and if you want an extra shot of freshness or flavour to the flossing add a capful or two to the water tank.
The tank is 600ml in capacity and will last roughly 90 seconds in daily use.
The tank has measurements for 600ml/21 ounces, but filled to the brim can hold 22 ounces/651ml.
Set to the highest pressure setting of 10, the tank will drain in about 90 seconds (1 minute and 30 seconds).
Set to the lowest setting, it lasted for around 4 minutes and 45 seconds.
Subject to how you use it you will likely get 2 flossing sessions out of it.
And when in use, it is quite quiet, producing a noise in the region of 72 decibels.
For the best results, you should start with the back teeth and work forward. Direct the jet at a 90 degree angle, working along the gumline with a brief pause between teeth. The rotatable tip will aid with this. As you get more proficient you will be able to twist the nozzle without having to stop the water flow.
When in use the unit will pause very briefly at 30 seconds to remind you to move onto the other arch of your mouth. If you have an electric toothbrush with a built–in timer it is a similar principle.
At 60 seconds it will pause again to let you know you have reached the recommended usage time.
It need take no longer than a minute to floss your mouth. You do not need to spend 2 minutes like you do with a toothbrush.
You should not use the flosser for more than 5 minutes in any 2 hour period and it will automatically shut off if used for 5 continuous minutes as a safety precaution.
Selecting the ‘Floss’ mode and changing the pressure setting is most common, but this model does too have a Hydro-Pulse Massage.
Essentially a unique pattern of water exits from the nozzle and can be used on the gums to stimulate them. This is ideal for those with sensitive gums and suffering from periodontal disease.
Now make no mistakes if you are new to this, it is more messy than regular flossing and it will take some getting used to. Don’t be surprised by a lot of dribbling and maybe a big of spray (it’s only water). But soon it will be easier and more enjoyable.
You can’t pop this in your bag or pocket for a quick freshen up on the go, but the water reaches deep into the mouth and really does remove bacteria and food stuffs you didn’t even realise were there.
You won’t be struggling to get to your back teeth like you do with regular floss due to the long nozzle and easy reach.
The power setting choice will be personal, most I believe will hover from The power/pressure setting choice will be personal, most I believe will hover from about 5-7, that feels like a nice comfortable mid ground. There are 10 settings to choose from ranging from 10 to 100 PSI. 10 is very powerful.
With any pressure setting, you can feel the water flosser working. The cleaning results are impressive. You can certainly feel and in some cases see the debris being cleaned from between the teeth.
How often you use this is up to use. Once a day is the minimum you should use it really.
It can be used perhaps after a meal to quickly freshen up as an alternative to brushing the teeth.
Many of us suffer with red, swollen or bleeding gums and that is believe it or not as a result of not flossing or brushing correctly. It is the bacteria buildup that causes the gums to react.
Regular use will lead to healthier gums as the bacteria is removed and the gums begin to recover. So confident are Waterpik that they offer a 14 day money back guarantee as well as a 3 year warranty.
If you purchase a Waterpik Water Flosser and don’t feel it’s improved your gum health, they will refund your money – no questions asked. What have you got to lose?
I think this is as close to perfect as you can get for a water flosser…unless there is one that can help master the technique better.
Summary of design, usability, clean & general use
- Nicely packaged with clear labeling
- Smart design, bulky but small when you really consider it
- 650ml/11 ounce water tank
- Storage space for 2-3 nozzles
- 7 nozzles provided in the box
- 1m/3 foot length on the hose
- Powered by mains electricity
- 1.4m/4 foot power cord
- Provides a good clean
- Quiet in use
- Rotating tips
- 2 year warranty
Price & where to buy
I have included links to buying options here at the start of the review.
In the section below, I discuss the price more generally and in relation to similar products.
There is a physical cost to this flosser and that recommended retail price is $219.00.
This is quite expensive and higher than I would ideally like.
It is comparable to other Waterpik products.
In many respects, for what it offers, it is comparable to other brands pricing for similar products.
But, there are certainly other companies, many of whom I am less familiar with, offering comparable products for about half the price.
Many of these companies are Chinese brands who are taking advantage of their lower cost base to produce and supply the Australian market.
There is no denying there is quite a lot of money to be saved, if you are happy to settle for a lesser known brand and deal with the associated risks.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing at least, there were no obvious chances of discount on the $219 retail price.
The WP-660 comes with a good number of different nozzles included, but the advice is to replace them. The classic jet tips can be replaced every 6 months, whilst the other styles should be replaced every 3 months.
Tips tend to come in packs of 2. A set of classic jet tips sell for around $18, or $9 each.
Assuming one user, using this over a 3 year period, the cost of owning the Waterpik Ultra Professional would work out at approximately $246 which is $0.23 per day.
No denying that good old string floss is as much as 7 times cheaper, but what price do you pay for convenience.
I reckon each flossing session you save yourself about a minute (not a scientific study).
Not only is there the time saved, there is the ease with which water flossing is completed in comparison.
What price can you put on the convenience that comes as a result?
Yes cheaper options exist, but they do not have all the same features.
Get more members of your family using it and there are only further savings to be made by sharing the cost between more users.
Please note that all prices quoted are approximates and will vary based on location, supplier and time of purchase. These figures were correct at the time of writing and should not be relied upon as hard fact, but used as a guide during your decision process.
Summary of price & where to buy
- Recommended retail price of $219
- No discounts on the selling price
- Replacement nozzles retail for $9 each
- Daily cost around $0.23 over 3 years
- Expensive but arguable benefits
Reliability & long term use
To suggest that this would never go wrong I cannot.
However, there are few complaints of Waterpik products being inherently faulty.
Compared to the Freedom Cordless flosser I have used from Waterpik this looks and feels more premium.
In the few weeks I have tested all has worked fine and I see little in the way of obvious weaknesses. Buttons are fairly resistive, the pressure control knob is not loose and other fitments solid.
There are not lots of parts to go wrong, but electrical products can fail, particularly when near water like this is. However it is backed by a 2 year warranty. When many offer just 1 year this is going above and beyond.
I suspect you will get good value from this unit.
Conclusion
It is arguably a slightly expensive luxury, when flossing the old fashioned way is cheaper.
However, there is a lot to be said for the convenience and the way in which you will be more encouraged to use this and I believe floss more regularly than you would otherwise.
It is not small, it does require mains power but it has been well designed and comes with a good selection of tips that makes this work particularly well in a family environment.
The adjustable pressure caters to different users needs and timers help prevent over flossing but also encourage better routines.
Convenience and the comfort in flossing with the Waterpik are the biggest draws.
The 2 year warranty is good and offers a nice extra peace of mind to this investment.
This is the best corded water flosser available today in my opinion.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Waterpik Ultra Professional Water Flosser - White | 357 Reviews |
$ 188.40 |
View on Amazon |
Electric Teeth Rating
Size Guide
- Height – 29cm
- Width – 15cm
- Thickness – 13cm
- Weight (without water) – 813g
All are approximates
Noise
- 72dB
FAQ
- Does it come with a charger?
- Yes, this requires mains power. A power cable is connected to the flosser. It supports 100-240v.
- How often do the nozzles need replacing?
- Nozzles should be replaced every 3-6 months.
- Can I use mouthwash in the Waterpik?
- You could, but it would be expensive and wasteful. Best adding a dash into the water used in the reservoir for a burst of freshness.
- How much water or mouthwash does it hold?
- Approx 650ml which will last for a minimum of 90 seconds.
- My gums bleed when I use cordless flosser. Is that normal?
- Bleeding gums may be a sign of infection and a little bleeding can be normal when starting a new oral care routine, as you may be cleaning in areas not previously reached. However, if bleeding is excessive or does not stop within a few days of regular use, consult a dental professional.
Your Opinions
Do you own or have you used the Waterpik WP-660 water flosser?
Are there certain features that you really like or dislike?
Let us know what you think about it, and let others who may well be considering purchasing one know your opinions before they do.
