Using a Waterpik with braces comes down to aiming the water stream at a 90-degree angle to your gumline, starting on a low pressure setting, and working systematically around every bracket and wire. The whole process takes about three to four minutes once you get the hang of it, and research published in the American Journal of Orthodontics found that adding a water flosser to brushing removed three times as much plaque as brushing and flossing combined in adolescents with braces.
Choose the Right Tip
Most Waterpik models come with a standard jet tip, which works fine for general cleaning. But if you have braces, the orthodontic tip is worth picking up. It has a tapered brush at the end that lets you physically scrub around brackets and under wires while the water stream flushes debris away. You’re essentially brushing and flushing at the same time, which is exactly what braces demand.
The standard jet tip still does a solid job along the gumline and between teeth. Some people alternate between both: the orthodontic tip for bracket-by-bracket cleaning and the jet tip for a general flush afterward. Either way, replace tips every three to six months, or sooner if the bristles on the orthodontic tip look frayed.
Where It Fits in Your Routine
The water flosser works best as the last step in your cleaning routine, not the first. Brush your teeth first to break up the bulk of food and plaque. If you use string floss or an orthodontic threader, do that next. Then use the Waterpik to wash away whatever’s left clinging to brackets, under the archwire, and along the gumline. Think of it as the rinse cycle after the scrubbing is done.
Step-by-Step Technique
Fill the reservoir with warm water. Warm water is more comfortable, especially if your teeth are sore from a recent adjustment. Place the tip in your mouth before turning the unit on, and lean over the sink. Water flossers are messy until you develop a routine for letting the water drain from your mouth while you work.
Start on the lowest pressure setting. This is important for first-time users because the sensation is surprisingly intense if you jump straight to high. Over the next week or two, gradually increase the pressure. For countertop models, most people with braces land comfortably around the 6 or 7 setting. For handheld units, aim for the 60 to 75 range. A study on orthodontic patients used 50 psi and saw excellent plaque removal, so you don’t need to blast at maximum.
Aim the tip at a 90-degree angle to your gumline. Use a slow sweeping motion and trace along the gumline from one side of your mouth to the other. When you reach each bracket, pause briefly and let the water stream flush around all sides of it. If you’re using the orthodontic tip, gently glide the brush portion over the bracket and the area between the bracket and the gum. Direct the water so it flows from the gumline toward the edge of the braces, pushing debris out rather than forcing it deeper.
Work through your mouth in a predictable order so you don’t miss spots. Start with the upper left outside surfaces, move to the upper right, then switch to the lower arch. After the outside surfaces, do the inside (tongue-side) surfaces the same way. Pay extra attention to the spaces under the archwire between brackets, where food loves to hide. The whole process should take you through all four quadrants without rushing.
Tricky Spots That Need Extra Attention
The areas that give braces patients the most trouble are the triangular spaces between the bracket base and the gumline. Plaque builds up here fast, and it’s exactly where decalcification (those white spots people dread after getting braces off) starts. Pause the tip at each of these spots for two to three seconds.
The back molars with bands deserve extra time too. Bands wrap entirely around the tooth, creating a tight seal where food gets trapped underneath. Angle the tip slightly under the edge of the band and let the water pressure do the work. If you have rubber bands, power chains, or other elastic attachments, those create additional nooks. You don’t need to remove elastics to water floss, just slow down and trace around them.
Adding Mouthwash to the Reservoir
Waterpik has confirmed it’s safe to add mouthwash to their reservoirs. An antibacterial mouthwash can provide extra benefit if you’re prone to gum inflammation, which is common with braces. Use a small splash mixed with the warm water rather than filling the tank with straight mouthwash.
A few things to avoid putting in the reservoir: hydrogen peroxide (it can corrode internal components over time), pure essential oils like tea tree oil, baking soda, salt solutions, and iodine. Waterpik specifically warns against these. If you do use mouthwash, run a cycle of plain water through the unit afterward to rinse out any residue. For kids with braces, stick with plain water since many mouthwash products contain alcohol.
Keeping Your Waterpik Clean
Empty the reservoir after every use and leave the lid open so it can air dry. Standing water in the tank breeds bacteria and mold surprisingly fast. Once a week, wipe the inside of the reservoir with a damp cloth. Once a month, run a cycle of warm water with a tablespoon of white vinegar to clean the internal tubing, then flush with plain water.
Remove the tip after each session and rinse it under the faucet. If you’re using the orthodontic tip, check that the small bristles aren’t matted down with debris. A quick soak in antibacterial mouthwash once a week keeps the tip itself clean.
What a Waterpik Can and Can’t Replace
A Waterpik is excellent at flushing loose debris, reducing plaque along the gumline, and reaching areas that string floss physically cannot access when wires are in the way. The ADA has accepted Waterpik water flossers as effective for removing plaque along the gumline and between teeth and for helping prevent and reduce gingivitis. That’s a meaningful endorsement.
It does not, however, fully replace the scraping action of string floss against the tight contact points between teeth. If you can manage to thread floss under your archwire (using a floss threader or orthodontic floss), that combination with a water flosser gives you the most complete clean. If threading floss feels impossible with your particular setup, a water flosser alone is still far better than brushing by itself. The priority is consistency: a water flosser you actually use every day beats string floss you skip because it takes 20 minutes to thread around every bracket.