Waterpik Aquarius WP-660 Review

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.

There are 6 versions of this flosser.  The difference is the color of the unit. Technically they are the same.

Their model numbers are as follows.

• Black (WP-662)
• Blue (WP-663)
• Orchid (WP-665)
• Mint Geen (WP-668)
• Burgundy (WP-669)
• White (WP-660)

I’m testing out the WP-662 here for this review, the box was color 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) to 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 Waterpik Aquarius series, these 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
• DT-100E – Implant denture tip

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 colored tips. Sourcing a black colored toothbrush tip as a separate accessory is very difficult.

The same can be said for the Blue colored WP-663 unit.

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.

Waterpik’s other model, the Ultra (WP-100), is better equipped to store multiple heads.

For most, users there will be a favored head.  It is unlikely anyone is going to make use of all 7.  This means some are potentially wasted and the storage is not an issue.

In a family environment, there may well be uses for each.

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 center 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, grey and orchid variants have white hoses, so these are not color 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.

If you opt for the premium professional variant, the edge of this dial/control knob is chrome colored.

The rear of the unit has the power outlet cable that stretches to about 140cm.

A 2 pin connector is found on the end suitable for the US power supply.

When it comes to actually using the water flosser, you need to follow the steps that 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 flavor to the flossing add a capful or two to the water tank.

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.

You do not need to take longer than a minute to floss your mouth with a water flosser.  You do not need to spend 2 minutes like you do with a toothbrush.

Do however take more time if you need it to floss effectively.

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 realize 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/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, there is a lot going for this product.

As a result, the American Dental Association (ADA) has awarded it their Seal of Acceptance.

To achieve such an accreditation, the product must demonstrate efficacy according to requirements developed by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs.

For final peace of mind Waterpik also includes a 3 year guarantee with the Aquarius.

Is it any surprise this holds the top spot in our best Waterpik list.

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.