Waterpik Ultra Plus review

Design, usability, clean & general use

By the nature of a countertop water flosser, they are not all that small.  The Waterpik Ultra Plus measures 25.15cm/9.90 inches tall, 14.22cm/5.60 inches wide and 13.46cm/5.30 inches deep.

It does too need a power outlet to function.

If you have very limited space in your bathroom, a countertop unit like this might not be for you.  The same can be said if you don’t have a shaver socket either.

And you will need to be mindful of the position of the water flosser in relation to the shaver socket. It may well be necessary for the power cable to trail across parts of your sink or bathroom shelves.

In fairness to Waterpik, that they have done a pretty good job on the design.

The Ultra Plus, looks cleaner and more modern than the Ultra that sits below it in the range.  The white with silver accents is a classic colour combination that works well.

You do not get the same variety of colour options as you do with the Ultra Professional.

Whilst talking about the 2 other models, it is worth noting that very little separates these 3.

The Ultra Plus reviewed here, sits in the middle, technically.

All have the same pressure settings, the same water tank capacity.

The main difference between the Ultra and the Ultra Plus are:

• The colour of the unit
• The Ultra Plus has a slider switch on the handle rather than a push button

The main differences between the Ultra Plus and Ultra Professional are:

• The design and colour of the units
• The Professional has a massage mode
• The Professional has a built-in timer and pacer
• The Professional has LED’s on the unit
• The Professional is quieter
• The Professional comes with more tips included
• The Ultra Plus has a more practical nozzle storage unit

In use, all 3 models work well.

I have been very pleased with how Ultra Plus cleans between the teeth and along the gumline.

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

Although using a water flosser can be a little bit messy, I actually find it easier. This is compared to string dental floss and interdental brushes.  

It can be a bit messy, due to the amount of water used, you need to expel this from the mouth.  You are therefore going to be dribbling over the sink as you do this.

It still requires a technique, but it feels a little easier to master.

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

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

Yet, almost all would prefer you use a water flosser instead of doing no interdental cleaning at all.

Brushing alone leaves up to 40% of the tooth surface uncleaned.  Water flossers like the Select have been clinically proven to remove plaque.

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.

The flow and pressure of the water reach bacteria deep between teeth and below the gumline. 

Brushing and traditional flossing can’t always reach this.

The unit itself comprises of several parts.

You have the main base unit.  This contains all the electronics.

On top of this sits the removable water reservoir/tank.

On top of the tank is the removable tip storage compartment come lid to the reservoir.

Sat on the front of the base unit is the handle.  This is connected to the base unit via a hose. The handle is the part you hold and position up to the mouth.

From the top of the handle extends the removable and replaceable nozzles/tips. It is the tip that direct the water into the mouth.

The base of the unit has 4 rubber feet that help prevent it from slipping on a countertop.

On the front of the unit, to the left side, you have 2 main controls.  There is the power on/off switch. This is white in colour. It does the job but isn’t as firm or clicky as you might expect.

Under this a rotating pressure control dial.  White in colour it is accented with a silver trim around the edge.

Ridges on the dial, make it easy to grip.  A slight depression on the dial acts as an indicator to which pressure setting is selected.  When rotated it aligns with the markings above the daily. These denote the pressure level.

In the middle of the base unit is the mount for the removable handle.

Under the mount is a recess into the body of the unit that the hose cable for the handle coils up into for neat storage. The hose is white in colour and measure approximately 90cm in length.

The Waterpik logo is in the lower right corner on the front of the unit.

The sides of the unit are free of ports and controls and curve towards the rear.

On the rear, the only notable element is the power cord that extends from it.  It is on the lower right edge. 

The cable has a length of approximately 130cm.  The plug attached to it is a 2 pin plug for UK bathrooms. The unit itself supports voltages from 100-240v.

Sitting on top of the base unit, is the removable water tank with a 651ml/22 ounces capacity.  It is made of a clear plastic. On the right side of the tank are measuring markers in both oz and ml for the water in the tank.

On the top of the tank is a removable storage compartment for the nozzles that come included in the box.  It acts as a lid for the tank too.  White in colour like the base unit the compartment is hinged to the rear for access. It holds 4 nozzles.

The handle is lightweight and has an easy to use slider switch on it.  Move the slider between the on and off positions to control the water flow.

Even when you power the main unit on, the water will only come out of the handle, if the switch on the handle is set to ‘ON’.  This is a  useful feature to more easily control the water when in use.

The handle tapers towards the bottom where the hose joins the handle.

At the top of the handle is the nozzle.  You can fit any of those offered by Waterpik. They push into place and are released by pressing the button on the side of the handle.

All nozzles can be rotated a full 360 degrees to help position the tip in the right place when in use.

It is easy to control and you have the ability to make very small changes or much greater via the rotating dial.  It is easily accessed when in use. A series of ridges make it easy to detect and use.

When in use, the flosser produces a sound in the region of 77 decibels. This is a bit louder than some other units, but comparable to the vast majority.

A full tank can be drained in 90 seconds when the pressure is set to the maximum of 10.  

Set it to the lowest, 1, and it takes 4 minutes and 45 seconds to drain completely.

The WP-150 offers 10 settings via the rotating control dial, these range from 10 to 100PSI.

You can set the pressure to the one you find most comfortable. I prefer the higher end of the scale, setting around 7-8, which is 70-80PSI.

With a proficient technique, you can clean the teeth in 45 seconds.  The beauty of the larger tank is you have more time if you need or want it.  And for many, you may get more than 1 session from the tank due to that capacity.

Unlike an electric toothbrush, there is no timer/pacer built in to help you ensure an even clean.  

It is recommended to use lukewarm water rather than cold. The WP-150 continues to function, even if the tank is drained of all the water.  It will only turn off when you turn it off.

6 tips are included in the box.  These are:

• ​Classic jet tip – For general use offering twice as effective results as string.
• Toothbrush tip – For brushing and flossing at the same time
• Plaque seeker tip – Ideal for those with implants, crowns, bridges or veneers. It targets plaque in hard to reach areas.
• Orthodontic tip – Great for those with braces. It offers up to 3 times more effectiveness than traditional floss
• Pik pocket tip – It helps rinse deep below the gumline. Ideally suited to those with periodontal pockets and furcations.
• Tongue cleaner – Freshens the breath by removing bacteria from the tongue’s surface.

In many respects, it is positive to get so many styles included, so you can try a few out. But, not everyone will need specific tips. Some are designed with individual circumstances in mind.

For the majority, it is the classic jet tip that you would want to use.  You only get one of these included.

The toothbrush tip is interesting. It isn’t a replacement for regular toothbrushing with a manual or electric brush.  It does give you a different option to use at times if you would like to.

Classic tips should be replaced every 6 months, whereas other tips should be replaced every 3.

Prices do vary, but a pack of 2 usually costs around £8, so £4 per tip.

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