Waterpik Cordless Freedom Water Flosser WF-03 Review

Design, usability, clean & general use

If you are new to the concept of water flossers, one of the first things you will notice is the size. I know how my first impressions some years ago were that these cordless options are bigger than I was expecting.

This isn’t necessarily an issue, it is just the nature of the product. They have to be quite big to accommodate the water tank and the pump etc.

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.

You just need to be mindful if you struggle to hold onto larger items like this. Those with limited dexterity or weaker grips may find using such a bit challenging.

The other factor at play here, is that because a cordless option is wire free, it is more travel friendly than a countertop alternative. But, if you are packing light for a weekend or a few days away it can take up a reasonable amount of space in a bag and might be something that needs to be left at home if space is at a premium when on the go.

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.

The nozzle on the top that feeds the water into the mouth almost looks lost against the tall flosser body.

The overall design of the WF-03 is fairly smart. The primary colors used on the plastic body are white and silver.

On the front of the flosser is a large silver panel insert which at the bottom has the logo in black colored text, with nothing else on the panel until you reach the top of the flosser where the silver panel surrounds a power switch with 3 positions.

The rounded rectangle shaped power slider has a raised bar across the middle which gives a grip/natural rest for the finger to interact with the switch.  Defaulted in 0, for the off position, move to I for the first power setting and II for the most powerful water jet.

The sides of the flosser are a matt white with a smooth finish.  The front silver panel had more of a glossy finish.  

On the rear, the upper third is finished with a series of raised dots.  Of 2 different sizes these form a good grip to hold the flosser with.

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.

Immediately below this is a translucent plastic water compartment/reservoir that runs down to the bottom of the flosser.  It is a bulbous design making for a thick and protruding section on the back of the flosser.

This compartment has a small hinged door on it that allows you to fill the tank when opened.  A black rubber seal helps avoid any leaks when closed.

Removable the compartment is, for cleaning and refilling purposes, a white tube does get inserted into the compartment from the water flosser when refitted.  This is the tube that takes the water from the storage area into the pump.

On the top of the flosser, centrally located is a hole into which the provided flosser tips fit into.  Simply clipping into place they can be removed and replaced by pressing down the kidney shaped button that sits directly behind.

The reservoir holds 150ml.  That is about 35 seconds of flossing time (subject to mode).

The base of the unit is flat, so the Cordless Freedom 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.  

Remove the unlocked cap, to insert or replace the batteries.  Fit the removable cap by aligning the icons shown and flicking the switch to the locked position.

3 x AA batteries are required to power the flosser, Waterpik includes their own branded ones at the time of purchase.

When you fill the tank, the idea is you fill it with water, this can be cold or lukewarm if you prefer.  The advice is to use warm water. You could add a dash of mouthwash too if you wanted an extra burst of freshness.

Once powered on the pump inside the flosser will draw the liquid from the tank up and out through the nozzle on the top.  It does this in a constant stream until the power is turned off or the liquid runs out.

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, labelled as I on the handle is 45 PSI, whilst the higher power mode, labelled 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 refill 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.

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 typically 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 Freedom 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 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 of a water flosser. 

The suggested approach 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.

REMEMBER, do not switch this on until it is in your mouth, failure to do so will result in a stream of water being shot out across the area around you!

As I intimated earlier although cordless, the overall size and design of this makes the WF-03 quite cumbersome to use.  You can use one hand, but some might find 2 easier for controlling the weight and positioning.

In fact really, if my bathroom could accommodate a cable optioned water flosser, I would be more inclined to go for that as I see limited benefits of the cordless, given the overall sie and water tank size.  The Waterpik Aquarius might be one you want to check out.

3 nozzles are provided with this cordless option these are:

• 2 x JT-100E – Waterpik Classic Water Flosser Tips
• 1 x OD-100E – Waterpik Orthodontic Tips

There are 4 extra/optional nozzles.

• PS-100E – Waterpik Plaque Seeker Tips
• PP-100E – Waterpik Pik Pocket Tips
• TB-100E – Waterpik Water Flosser Toothbrush Tips
• TC-100E – Waterpik Water Flosser Tongue Cleaner

For the vast majority, the classic tips are fine.  Any of the others can be used for those looking for alternative options or to address more specialized needs.  

For example, the Pocket Tips are specifically designed for those with Periodontal Pockets and the Plaque Seeker for those with dental implants.

You can find more information on each of the different tips over at Waterpik’s website.

Replace the classic and tongue tip every 6 months and all others every 3 months.

Sadly the nozzle does not rotate as it does on most other models. This is by no men’s a deal breaker, but it does make getting to parts of the mouth a little easier with other models.

It is worth noting that the flosser is water resistant and Waterpik advise that you can use it in the shower, should you choose to.

The flosser comes with a smart drawstring travel pouch to hold the flosser and nozzles when traveling. It provides minimal protection.

It does come with a plastic plug that goes into the tip attachment and prevents water leaking when traveling. This is a small but potentially very useful features that is easily overlooked.

The overall quality of the Freedom is satisfactory. It is hard to really explain how or why, it doesn’t feel great. I think the plastics feel a bit cheaper on the Freedom, like the gloss silver panel on the font. To me, some other models just feel a bit better. Perhaps I am being a bit fussy and forgetting the health benefits!

 It does come with a 1 year guarantee though, so should the worst happen you are protected.