Waterpik Cordless Advanced WP-560 Review

Just enough time to floss without a refill

45(ish) seconds is about the time it takes a proficient user to clean in between the teeth and along the gumline effectively.

The 207ml (7 ounce) tank should enable the majority of users to floss without having to refill. When the power is set to high you get 45 seconds of usage time. This increases to 65 on the low setting. If you do need to refill mid-floss, it isn’t that difficult. There’s an easy-to-use, hinged door on the back for quick refilling. Failing that, you can detach the tank completely. This makes it easier to clean, too.

Unlike an electric toothbrush, there is no timer or pacer built in to help you ensure an even clean across your mouth. Like toothbrushing, though, there is a correct technique, notably holding the flosser at 90 degrees to the gumline. It takes practice, but the best results will be achieved if you take the time to learn.

I’ve been very impressed with Advanced and how well it has removed debris and plaque from between the teeth. On many occasions, I can feel the difference and the evidence in the sink confirms it’s doing a good job.

Whether you have all your own teeth or you have crowns, veneers, bridges or implants, you can use a water flosser. If you’ve had any dental work, you might be better served by specific tips to get the best results. The Pik-Poket tip is designed specifically for those with periodontal pockets for example.

The Advanced has been awarded the American Dental Association’s Seal of 

Acceptance and approved by the Oral Health Foundation. This means it has undergone independent clinical testing and achieves the claims Waterpik makes. The company undertakes lots of clinical testing to verify the performance and suitability of its products.

Producing 70 decibels of sound when in use, the Advanced is far from silent, so this is something to bear in mind when considering this product. Most flossers operate in a similar audible range.

Grippy and stylish

If you’ve not used a cordless water flosser before, you might be a bit surprised by the size. They are bigger than some anticipate. Smaller hands can struggle to hold and handle them comfortably. This is less of an issue with the Advanced.

The shape and expanse of the textured surface on the rear make for the best grip and in-hand comfort I have experienced.

When in use with a full tank the device feels nicely balanced and I never feel that I am struggling to hold and move it.

The thumb falls naturally to the mode and power buttons. Their silicone surface is easy to pick out with a fingertip. They don’t require much pressure to activate and give a satisfactory amount of feedback.

It is all made from plastic, even the chrome-looking parts. But the curved shape and choice of colours, (white, black and blue) help make it stand out from what are mainly all white coloured alternatives.

The Advanced is water-resistant. It will get wet as water dribbles out your mouth as you floss, but it can be rinsed under a tap and it’s safe to use in the shower if you so choose.

It’s the easiest rotating nozzle I’ve ever used

The Cordless Advanced has the easiest nozzle rotation setup of any cordless water flosser.

You can move it a little or a lot extremely easily. You can do this whilst you floss, using a single finger from the same hand that holds the flosser.

The large fin and clicking design of the rotating mechanism is effortless to use.

Many other brands who claim easy-to-use nozzle rotation could learn a thing or two from Waterpik. Too many don’t rotate as easily.

Choose the water pressure that is right for you

Pick between high, medium and low water pressure settings to get a flossing experience you enjoy.

Low is ideal for new users or if you have gum recession, sensitivity or bleeding gums. It operates at 45 PSI.

High is the most intense and better suited to more experienced users who have no active gum disease or sensitivity. This operates at 75 PSI.

The Cordless Advanced allows you to switch between modes at any time with a press of the mode button. LEDs on the unit confirm which mode is selected. It will remember and default to that mode until you change it.

More power doesn’t necessarily result in a better clean. Don’t think you need to progress quickly to high mode. You are better off perfecting your technique and using a low mode than using a power level you find too harsh.

Expensive, but justifiably so

£85 is the average price of the Advanced, about £10 less than its retail price.

It is most certainly more expensive than lesser known brands and one of the most expensive from Waterpik.

Factoring in replacement nozzles, over the space of 3 years you are looking at a cost of £101.

I believe it is justifiable for what’s on offer here.

The Sonicare cordless 3000 costs about the same as the Advanced. It is similarly featured and the closest competitor.

Waterpik’s Cordless Select is around £10 less. Cleaning results are comparable, but it is less comfortable in hand and doesn’t come with a travel case.

If considering the switch from string floss, then water flossers are far more expensive. But, for many, they are a worthwhile investment as they help you form a more consistent habit than with the very technique sensitive floss.

Quickly recharge the battery with the bulky, but easy-to-use magnetic charger 

Sealed inside the handle is a rechargeable (NiMH) battery.

1 week is the claimed usage time, which is well below the industry standard of about a month. Yet, in my testing, using the high mode once a day, I achieved around 6 weeks. That’s a substantial difference and well in line with industry averages.

User feedback would suggest real world performance isn’t always this good as my testing suggests. I don’t know what the differences are that cause this. Nonetheless, it would appear to be far better than the sub par 1 week Waterpik advertises.

An LED on the unit gives feedback when the battery is low, with about 30% power remaining.

Recharged in around 4 hours, the magnetic charger is convenient and effortless to attach. It just snaps into place on the front of the flosser. But, it is bulkier than a lot of other chargers for similar products.

USB power cables are becoming more commonplace, with the type-c connector on the Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser 3000 being one of the best options today. This does mean having to deal with sometimes fiddly port covers, though.

A 2 pin power adapter suitable for UK bathrooms is hardwired into the magnetic charger. You will need a 2 pin to 3 pin adapter if you don’t have a shaver socket available.

The travel case is the most useful of all the accessories

A lot of extras are included in the box, some more useful than others.

It depends on your specific needs, but the Advanced comes with 4 tips (nozzles) in the box. They are:

• 2 x JT-450E – Waterpik Classic High Pressure Jet Tips
• 1 x OD-100E – Waterpik Orthodontic Tip
• 1 x PS-100E – Waterpik Plaque Seeker Tip

It’s the jet tips that suit most users, with the other 2 designed for more specific user needs. Waterpik has even more tip styles available for those who need them. All of them can be used with the Advanced.

It’s nice to have the options out of the box, but they are a bit wasteful if you don’t need them.

It’s recommended to replace jet tips every 6 months, whereas those with bristles like the orthodontic tip should be replaced every 3.

Also included is a plastic travel case to hold the aforementioned tips. Not essential, but certainly nice to have.

The most useful extra is the soft, drawstring pouch case. Basic but functional, it allows you to keep items together and gives a bit of protection when on the go. 

Another useful extra is the ‘plug’. This plastic piece fits into the top of the flosser when you take it with you and helps prevent water from leaking out of the opening.

Corless units are more travel-friendly than the countertop alternatives. It’s personal preference, but because of the size you’re probably not going to want to carry the Advanced with you when travelling light for a 1 or 2 night stay, for example. Regular travellers are better off considering the more compact collapsible designs featured in our best water flossers article.

An industry average 2 year warranty is included

The Waterpik Cordless Advanced comes with a 2 year warranty. This is the average, but it’s a shame Waterpik hasn’t opted for 3 years, like it does with some of its products. 

I’ve found the Advanced to be durable and well made overall. I have no reason to be overly concerned.

Feedback from users would suggest long term battery reliability is an issue. I’ve no figures to confirm either way. I don’t advise against the Advanced knowing this. 

Environmental impact

As it stands, there haven’t been any studies to specifically measure the environmental impact of water flossers. 

However, a 2020 study found that an electric toothbrush has around 11 times the environmental impact of a manual toothbrush. The equivalent is likely to be true of a water flosser compared to string floss or interdental brushes. 

If you can use string floss or interdental brushes, it will be better for the planet than opting for the Cordless Advanced. It is interdental brushes that are the most effective of all flossing tools. 

With regards to the Cordless Advanced specifically, the bulky magnetic charger is proprietary to the Advanced and can’t be repurposed like a USB type-c cable could. The inclusion of additional tips feels a bit wasteful as many will go unused. 

Petroleum-based plastics are used, rather than plant-based, thus using more of the planet’s finite resources. 

Unfortunately, Waterpik doesn’t currently offer any recycling programme for their flossers or consumables.

Conclusion: a must-buy cordless flosser

The good sized tank and variable pressure settings give you time and greater control as you floss.

It is a bit expensive and the magnetic charger is a bit bulky, albeit convenient.

The design, ease of use and performance make it the best cordless flosser available.