WaterPik WP-60W Personal Dental Water Jet System
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Customer Reviews of WaterPik WP-60W Personal Dental Water Jet System
Customer Review: Great little gadget
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had my WP-60W for almost two years, ever since I started getting sore gums periodically, but rarely used it regularly. I have almost no counter space by the sink, so I kept putting it in the closet, where it would be forgotten until I started hurting again.
I finally gave in and now keep it perched on the edge of the sink. I had some bleeding the first couple times I used it, but now that's stopped and I even think the most troublesome pocket may be holding less debris. When I'm in a hurry I just irrigate the problem areas, but at night I give myself a thorough session with it. At this point, if I floss after I use the Waterpik, I get hardly anything off of my teeth!
The little monster is loud, but hey, it has to create a lot of pressure from a teeny tiny motor, and I'm sure the short lifespan of 2-4 years is what keeps the price so low. With twice-daily use I don't expect it live more than a couple more years, which frankly is a great bargain if I can avoid an oral surgeon or more fillings due to receding gums.
Last week I decided to splurge on a Waterpik Ultra Cordless Dental Water Jet, which was awful compared with the 60W--tiny reservoir, extremely awkward to handle, impossible to clean thoroughly--and is going right back to the store. Even with its noise and size, the 60W is far easier to use. I did consider the QuickBreeze - Dental Oral Irrigator w/ 36" hose, but it doesn't allow you to use mouthwash, which is important if you've got serious gum problems.
Here are some tips for the WP-60W:
* Press the reservoir down firmly over the gasket. When the water level is low it's likely to lose its connection; either press the reservoir down again or add water.
* When you get started, set the pressure to the lowest level and hold the pik pointing into the sink until the water starts; then you can get it into your mouth with no spray and carefully turn up the pressure.
* I never leave water in the reservoir; if you do, you're just asking for contamination or bacteria. That's why I decided not to buy the one with the covered reservoir.
* To keep things as sanitary as possible, rinse the reservoir and run clear water through the machine if you've used mouthwash. Remove the 'pik' and rinse it out under the faucet. Then hold the handle in the sink below the level of the reservoir to allow water to drain out of the cord and shake it into the sink a few times to remove any remaining water in the handle. I then turn the reservoir over and prop it up on the unit until it dries out, since I'm concerned with bacterial or algae buildup.
All in all, this is a great machine. It sounds like Waterpik is great about replacing bad units within a year (without a receipt!!). Nothing is made the way it used to be, but given the low price I'm not too concerned.
Customer Review: Wish I'd had one years ago
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this to replace a similar system made by a different mfr, after that one developed an irreparable leak following many years of use.
There is no doubt the WaterPik is far more effective than its predecessor. I began using it at mid-power, because I have been a dental water jet user for years and had used my other one at just a bit above mid-power. The WaterPik cleans thoroughly, as the WaterPik Website video illustrates. It removes irritants below the gum line. I can vouch for this because (to my surprise) I had some minor bleeding of the gums during the first few days of use.
Not that such bleeding is a good thing, but its importance will be clear in a moment. Please note that I don't have any peridontal disease or gum recission. Just a little inexplicable bleeding that comes with any vigorous dental cleaning. I get good numbers on the gum measurements at each exam, so this issue has just been a "keep an eye on it" thing for a long time. But the WaterPik appears to have solved it.
After regular use of the WaterPik for a few weeks, I experimented by trying a few passes at nearly full power. No bleeding. At full power, the WaterPik is quite vigorous, and I'd guess that anyone with any gum issues would not be able to tolerate it. Mid-power works just fine for me, so that's what I use. I tried the higher setting as a test and can't reproduce the bleeding gum problem that the WaterPik appears to have cured in a few weeks of regular use.
So apparently, my previous personal dental hygiene--which included brushing, flossing, and irrigating six times per day (once after each meal)--wasn't sufficient to keep my gumline free of irritants and to properly stimulate my gums. Dentists have recommended digitally (finger) rubbing my gums as a remedy, but I've never been able to stick with it--too easy to invoke the gag reflex. The WaterPik, however, has proven to be a solution I can stick with.
Because this cleans so well, I now floss only twice a day (meaning I buy 2/3 less dental floss) and yet still have clean teeth and gums.
During my semi-annual dental cleaning and exams, I sometimes had the same minor gum bleeding that I experienced upon first use of the WaterPik. The reason for this has always been a mystery, until now. It was a mystery because I did everything right--brush, floss, irrigate. What I didn't know was there is a huge difference in irrigators (dental water jets). From now on, it's the WaterPik brand for me. I will accept no substitutes.
Customer Review: Good machine, lousy design
Summary: 3 Stars
My daughter bought me one of these last year - I've never had a waterpik before.
It does a nice, refreshing job of cleaning the teeth and gums.
But the design of the case is really pathetic, and anyone who even tried using the machine before marketing it would see that.
Nothing fits together to stay. The part that you hold in your hand sits loosely in its storage receptacle, and the curled hose leading to the water reservoir needs to be carefully tucked, or the springiness of it makes the device hop out of its receptacle when preparing to put it away.
The device heads (there are two, one for gums and one for cleaning the tongue) sit loosely in holes in the base. Whenever you open the case, they fly out, and I have to retrieve them from the bathroom floor. Since I've usually removed my glasses at this point, it's a real pain.
The filled reservoir fits loosely onto the top, so that sometimes you don't have it properly in place, and you have to "fiddle" with it to get it properly seated or the water won't flow.
The little switch that changes the force of the water is so loose that I am continually turning it down or off simply by virtue of holding it and working it around my mouth. They should click firmly at each level to be more user-friendly.
The drained reservoir, turned upside down, creates the lid to the unit when storing, and likewise, it simply sits loosely on the bottom, so that if you pick it up that way, you send everything flying.
Finally, the cord is stored wound around the bottom of the unit, and has no clip or anything to keep it in place, so once wound and ready to replace in its storage place, one must have one hand around the top and bottom - to keep everything inside from opening and flying apart, and one hand on the wound cord, to keep it from unwinding and dangling after you as you take it to its storage place.
I'm not an engineer, but I think a few little snap-in devices or hinged clips would make me much more enthusiastic about using it.
Customer Review: Not as Good as It Used to Be
Summary: 3 Stars
I've been using a Waterpik for several decades now, and while the effectiveness of the product -- excellent for oral irrigation and toughening the gums -- has been consistent, the design and quality of the product have faltered. My first Waterpik, purchased in the early 1970s for sensitive gums on the recommendation of my dentist, lasted far longer than my more recent purchases. Sometimes the motor gives out, and sometimes the hose gives out.
That said, no product lasts forever. But what really annoys me is the design of the current product. First of all, instead of two "picks," Waterpik now gives you one "pick" and a "tongue cleaner." And when you attempt to purchase replacement picks, you must buy them with the tongue cleaner as well. Furthermore, the design of the current model is too big and bulky, not neat and compact as it once was. And lastly, the only way you can close the Waterpik is by removing the pick every time; the top will not fit over the bottom otherwise.
Bottom line: It is still a good product, but it becomes increasingly inconvenient with each new iteration, and I think the market is ripe for the competition.
Update May 2008: This Waterpik finally went the way of all moving devices (the cable from the implement broke), and I purchased the newer "Ultra" model. Many of the inconveniences of the "Personal" model have been eliminated in the Ultra: The Ultra has a much smaller footprint, the jet is positioned better, and it has a top to cover the reservoir when not in use. Even though it is about 50% more in cost, it is worth it to me (despite the blue reservoir, which doesn't match any of my countertop accessories).
Customer Review: Good working teeth and gum cleaner
Summary: 3 Stars
When I got brace, my orthodontist recommended one of these machine to keep my teeth and gum clean. He was right. This machine is inexpensive but works well for what it is designed for. I used it every evening to plush out the food particles and build up between teeth, brace and under the gum line. It leave my mouth feel fresh and clean after brushing the teeth as well. There are a few issues with the unit obviously. This thing is definitely louder than your average bathroom accessory but no worse than the hair dryer. People has to understand that this small unit has to compress water to generate the pressure needs at the tip of the handle. The other thing that annoys me a bit is that there is no cover for the water tank so it collects dust on top so I have to rinse it out every other day. I don't take it out and store it because it is a waste of time if you are going to use it every day and it may also cause a leak at the seal. The last issue is the short hose which you need to uncoil it to get it to your mouth. Other than that, it seems to hold up for 2+ years so far. I think that people also do not know how to store the handle correctly to avoid water draining out of the tank, I have no such problem. As far as the hose leak, don't yank it hard like a spring, just uncoil it and it should last a lot longer. I tend to agree that the hose should be more flexible and should be another 6" longer. For the low cost of the unit assuming it lasts 2 years, it is a great deal to keep your teeth and gum healthy to avoid much more costly bills from the dentists, even if you have dental insurance. Mine comes with two tips so my wife can share the unit as well making it even more cost effective.