Waterpik Cordless Express review

Design, usability, clean & general use

The Cordless Express comes packaged in a very typical Waterpik style box.  It promotes the product and calls out the key features you can expect and the benefits you will get from using this product.

I have used water flossers before, but first impressions for some will likely be this is bigger than I was expecting.  

This isn’t a flat out negative, it is just the nature of the situation.  Make the unit smaller and the size of the reservoir is impacted.  Make it bigger and it is larger and heavier to hold.

I think Waterpik has managed to achieve a fairly good balance.  This size vs portability question is an issue all cordless water flosser manufacturers have.

There are essentially 3 key parts to this cordless unit.

You have the main handle/flosser body.  Then you have the removable water tank (reservoir) and then you have the flosser tip or nozzle.

I have the white colored version of the WF-02, but you can also get it in black.  It is nice to have a choice, not just plain old white.  

It is a fairly clean looking device and relatively inoffensive.  The overall shape and design is very similar to the WF-03 Cordless Freedom water flosser.

Looking at the unit head-on, in the upper third of the handle is the power/function slider switch.  It has a rounded rectangle design and sits slightly proud of the unit's body.  It has 4 embossed chevrons on it (2 in opposing directions) that give grip and a more tactile feel to the switch.  This controls the 2 modes, which I will explain shortly.

A little lower on the handle is the Waterpik logo.

The remainder of the front is smooth touch plastic with no ports or controls.

Only on the very bottom edge at the front do you then have the slider switch for unlocking the cap on the bottom of the flosser, to access the batteries.

From the side profile, you will see the lower half of the handle is deeper than the upper half.  This is because the upper half of the unit is the area around which your hand grips to hold and control the unit.

The right side is free of any notable features whilst the left side has the opening to the water tank itself.

Looking at it from the rear, the lower half is the transparent water tank, with the upper half of the plastic body covered in lots of differently sized dots.  These give a texture to the handle.

The size and positioning are such that you can get a pretty good grip on the unit.  It doesn’t feel all that awkward.

It is not as comfortable in hand as the Cordless Advanced, but more comfortable than the Cordless Select.

For some, the unit will just be too awkward to hold.  Particularly if holding heavier items is more challenging.

Little hands of children are not ideally suited.  Typically this is designed for adults or older kids.

The base of the unit is flat, so the Express will sit upright on a countertop.  It is essentially split into 2 parts.  You have the bottom of the water reservoir and the compartment to access the batteries.

Padlock icons and arrows on the base depict how to lock and unlock it to gain access.  

At the top of the unit, centrally placed is a hole, into which the nozzles fit.  Behind this is a raised grey button that is pressed to release the nozzle fitted into the handle. 

Over the last few years, Waterpik appears to have been making small tweaks and improvements to their products and that has resulted in a more comprehensive range but also better quality products.

The Express doesn’t boast all of the best bits of Waterpik, but given that the Express is an entry level it is still relatively impressive and hard to criticize.

Water flossing isn’t a new thing, it has been around for years. But, it isn’t something that is all that heavily promoted by dental professionals.  Many tend to recommend dental floss or interdental brushes over water flossers.

This is typicaly because these tools are considered more effective because of the physical contact they have with the spaces between the teeth.

But, many people don’t floss and this isn’t good for anyone’s oral health.

Therefore, most dental professionals will agree that doing something is better than nothing.  Water flossers are a more convenient approach and are clinically proven.

Waterpik has plenty of clinical evidence to prove that their products are more effective than string floss.

The Express has also earned the American Dental Associations (ADA) seal of acceptance.  To do so, it has to pass stringent tests and proof must be shown that it can achieve the results the manufacturers claim. 

Such certification brings peace of mind to you and me as users.

I am not here to argue the pros and cons of each or say which is right.  Water flossing is most certainly an option that many people can embrace with more ease as it is less difficult to master.

I feel it important to note how messy water flossing can be.  This applies to all water flossers, irrespective of brand and whether it is a countertop or cordless option.  

You have to be lent over a sink really. This is because the volume of water pushed into the mouth during use means you have to expel it somewhere. 

It takes practice to master the technique. 

The suggested technique is:

• Lean low over sink and place the tip in mouth.
• Aim the tip towards the teeth, and turn the unit on (l or II).
• 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 mouth into the sink. Keep unit upright during use for best results.

Even experienced users will slip up at times and you will end up spraying their bathroom mirror etc with water.  It is worse for new users.  It gets easier quite quickly, but just be aware that this is something to contend with.

The Express is cordless.  This means you are not tied to a power outlet and have much more freedom to move when in use. 

This is great, but, as I have highlighted, you still need to be lent over a sink. So even with the cordless option, you are not truly free of the bathroom like you might expect.  

And linked to this, because it needs to push through water, it needs the tank built into the unit to allow this to happen.  Thus, even cordless models, like the Express, are bigger than some might expect.  

They are more travel friendly than a countertop unit, but if you want to pack minimally, it is unlikely even the cordless water flosser will make the cut.  

The water reservoir on the Express has a door on the side that can be opened to fill it, whilst attached to the rest of the unit, or alternatively, you can slide it off if you would prefer.

It is a bit more hassle I feel to remove it each time, particularly to refit with the water in.  But, the fact it is removable is good, because it helps if you want to clean out the tank.

Because it is clear, you can see the water inside.  

You can add a couple of dashes of mouthwash to the water if you want to give that extra freshness.

It holds 5 ounces (148ml) and ideally, you want to use luke warm water rather than cold because it makes for a more pleasant flossing experience.

How quickly the water drains from the tank is depicted by the mode you are using.

There are 2 pressure settings.  The lower setting, labeled as I on the handle is 45 PSI, whilst the higher power mode, labeled as II on the handle is 75 PSI.

You are not getting the 10 different settings you often get on the countertop units, but this is more than good enough.  Essentially you have a powerful and gentle mode.

Set to the lower pressure setting the tank drains in approx 45 seconds.

Set to the higher pressure mode and the tank drains in approx 35 seconds.

To an experienced user, you might just manage a full floss.  I can generally get a good clean in 45 seconds.  However, many will find that a refil of the tank is necessary.

I do like the slider switch.  It is easy to use and you can quite quickly change between pressure settings as you floss, if you desire.

I found that I preferred the more powerful setting of the two offered, but those with sensitive gums may find the lower power setting to be better. 

Despite my preference for the more powerful option, my mouth did feel clean after use with either mode.  

It is amazing just how much debris these water flossers blast out from between the teeth.

Included in the box are 2 classic jet tips.  These are great and suit most users.

However, they don’t serve everyone.  Waterpik has a range of alternative tips that are compatible with the Express and can be used if you so desire.

Other tips available include:

• DT-100E Waterpik Implant Denture Tip
• OD-100E Waterpik Orthodontic Tip
• PP-100E Waterpik Pik Pocket Tip
• PS-100E Waterpik Plaque Seeker Tip
• TB-100E Waterpik Water Flosser Toothbrush Tip
• TC-100E Waterpik Water Flosser Tongue Cleaner

As the names imply some are specially designed for specific scenarios that might apply to you.

As you can probably tell from the list of tips this water flosser is suitable for a whole range of users.  Whether you have braces, dental implants, dentures or a crown.

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

In some respects, it is a shame that more tips are not included.  For some, additional tips might be required before you can really benefit from it.  However, it suits the majority and does mean that many people are not getting tips they wouldn’t have otherwise used.

The classic tips included need replacing every 6 months on average.

Waterpik advocates holding the tip at a 90 degree angle to the gumline to complete the cleaning.  This is fine for the most part, but one of the features lacking on the Express is the ability to easily rotate the nozzle.

Technically it is possible, but you can only really do this when it is out of the mouth and it is switched off.  

Whilst I find with many water flossers that my need to rotate the nozzle is relatively limited, it is nice to have this option.  It makes things a little more convenient and the product overall a bit more versatile.  I think some will miss the lack of a rotating nozzle, especially if you have used such before.

The unit is water resistant if you were wondering.  You can use in the shower, and rinse it off if needs be.  There is a good seal around the batteries, so the chance of ingression is very slim.

By no means are these things essential, but they are handy for those who do want to travel with their cordless water flosser.  A soft drawstring pouch case and a plastic water stopper. The case holds and gives a bit of protection to the unit and tips.  Whilst the stopper goes in place of the nozzle when traveling.  

These are items that come included with the like of the Cordless Advanced and the Cordless Freedom.  They don’t come with the Cordless Express.  It is a bit of an oversight in my opinion.  But, this then might be a reason to pick the Cordless Freedom over this Express model.

The overall build quality is good, a bit better than I had expected for the price. Having been made by a leading brand, one hopes for long term reliability.  It does come with a 1 year guarantee which is pretty standard.