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I hate to boast, but my dentist says that I have “unbelievable dental hygiene.” I attribute this to Sonicare, Listerene, flossing, and Water-Pik. It’s the latter that I am addressing here.
I’ve used a Water-Pik since I was a young boy, but over the decades the quality of the product has very much declined. And while I still recommend one for health reasons, there are a few problems with the latest handheld model:
Water-Pik brags about being USB rechargeable, but that’s a fallacy. They use a proprietary connector on the end of the USB cable so you still have to use their cable. What a ridiculous design decision that offers only annoyance, no benefits.
Oh, wait, it gets worse. I’ve tried several USB charges (Apple, Amazon, and generics) and none of them work with the Water-Pik cable. I finally found one that will charge the device. If they’re going to be so picky about the specs of the charger, the least they could do would be to include on in the box. Good luck finding one on your own!
The water tank is poorly designed and difficult to clean and drain completely. It’s also difficult to fill, especially in the shower, which is where I use it.
On the plus side, Costco offers a nice bundle of the handheld and sink-side model, Again, the quality of the build is not as good as it used to be, but it still works, and the Costco price is great.
Finally, a word of caution. Being frustrated with the size and other problems (see above) with the handheld unit, I purchased a no-name “oral irrigator” from the Amazon. Don’t bother, it didn’t work nearly as well. Despite all the issues, get the name brand Water-Pik version.