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Waterpik

Waterpik ION

Name: Waterpik ION
Brand: Waterpik

A thorough, cord-free countertop flosser that's loud and can get messy

Our score

70/100

The Product Review scoreOur verdict from 5 expert reviews and 7,443 owner ratings and comments. Medium confidence.

Loupe's take: Strong, with a few catches. Who's Loupe?

#2 cordless #2 for travel #3 for braces

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Photo: Waterpik

75Expert score5 expert reviews

71Owners score7,443 ratings & comments

58Reliability17% report problems

Based on

CnnWirecutterForbes CNET

Electricteeth

Amazon

YouTube

See how we scored it

Updated October 27, 2026

Our research covered 5 hands-on expert evaluations, and 4 of 5 named the ION a best overall or top pick, citing thorough cleaning, a cord-free charging base and a large tank. Noise is the clearest weak spot: pack of 3 of 5 experts flagged it as loud, and one dismissed it entirely for being overwhelmingly loud. Among 143 owner comments, 20% praise its cleaning, while 14% call it messy, 7% find it too strong and 7% say it broke or died. Overall, failure mentions reach 17%, and our reliability score of 58 rests on limited long-term data, so durability evidence is thinner than performance evidence. It holds a 4.1-star average across about 7,300 Amazon ratings.

Experts 75Owners 71

ExpertsOwnersEach expert review

What each expert concluded

Cnn~9/10

The writer picked the Waterpik Ion as the best water flosser overall, praising its strong yet gentle pressure, large reservoir, easy handling and good value, with loud operation as the only real drawback.

Hands-on review · open the review ↗

Wirecutter~9/10

The Waterpik Ion Professional is the top pick for countertop water flossers, as it cleans most thoroughly, saves counter space with its cordless charging base, and is easy to refill and clean, though it is a bit loud and has no onboard tip storage.

Hands-on review · open the review ↗

Forbes~2/10

The Waterpik Ion Professional Cordless Water Flosser was tested but dismissed because it was overwhelmingly loud, and it is listed among the flossers the publication does not recommend.

Hands-on review · open the review ↗

~8.5/10

The writer picked the Waterpik ION as the best water flosser overall, praising its compact countertop design, big water tank, ADA acceptance, and braces/implant-friendly tips, with price being the main drawback.

Hands-on review · open the review ↗

Electricteeth~7/10

The writer picks the ION as the best cordless countertop flosser, praising its battery-powered convenience and cleaning that matches other countertop units, while noting awkward nozzle rotation and a small handle.

Hands-on review · open the review ↗

Verdicts paraphrased; open a card to read the original. How we score

The verdict in 10 seconds

You'll love it if

You don't have an outlet near your bathroom sink
You want a deep, dentist-fresh clean and like having lots of pressure choices
You have braces, implants, or dentures and need specialty tips

Skip it if

You're sensitive to noise or share a bathroom with light sleepers
You want something small enough to toss in a travel bag
You'd rather avoid a splashy learning curve at the sink

Worth a look first

Also on the shortlistWaterpik Aquarius WP-66077 · scores higher overall→All 4 alternatives →

What owners rave and rant about

What they rave about

Cleaning20%

Easy to use6%

Gentle2%

Value2%

Battery1%

What they rant about

Messy14%

Broke or died7%

Too strong7%

Battery4%

Weak pressure3%

Share of 143 owner reviews and comments that mention each topic.

The no-fluff verdict

The Waterpik ION sits on your counter like a regular water flosser but runs on a rechargeable battery, so you don't need an outlet by the sink. It cleans very thoroughly, has plenty of pressure settings, and refills and cleans easily. The catch is noise, since it's surprisingly loud, and a learning curve with splashing, so it suits people who want a deep clean at home and don't mind a bit of buzz.

This verdict draws on 8 independent sources: 5 expert tests, 7,443 ratings and reports from retailers, owner communities and video reviews, and official safety records, analyzed and cross-checked into one verdict, so you don't have to.

Ratings across the web

Amazon

4.1 / 5

★★★★★7,300 ratingsMay include close variants of this model

YouTube

3.6 / 5

★★★★★143 owner commentsLong-term owners. Converted to stars from how positive their comments are

Shop ratings lean positive (happy buyers, brand-moderated stores); forums lean critical (people post problems). Our owners score weighs both equally.

Questions people actually ask

How do you use the Waterpik ION water flosser?

Fill the tank, pick a pressure, lean over the sink, and turn it on with the switch on the handle. Start on a low setting and work up, and keep your lips partly closed so the water drains into the sink instead of spraying.

Based on: Expert hands-on findings on controls, plus owner reports of messiness and strong pressure.

How do you clean the Waterpik ION water flosser?

Lift off the tank and rinse it, or put it in the dishwasher. A regular deeper clean keeps mold and mineral buildup from forming inside.

Based on: Experts note a detachable, dishwasher-safe reservoir; long-term upkeep notes flag mold and mineral buildup.

Does the Waterpik ION water flosser work?

Yes, it cleans very thoroughly. It leaves your mouth feeling freshly cleaned at the dentist and carries the American Dental Association's seal.

Based on: Four of five hands-on testers rated its cleaning highly; good cleaning is owners' top praise.

How do you use the ION water flosser if the pressure feels too strong?

Turn the pressure dial down to the gentlest setting and build up slowly. It has a wide range, and some people find the higher levels too intense at first.

Based on: Experts cite a wide pressure range; some owners say it feels too strong.