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How often should you replace water flosser tips?
Updated
Every 3 to 6 months, depending on the tip. Waterpik's support pages say tips should be replaced about every 3 to 6 months, and its tips guide puts tips with bristles, like the Orthodontic and Plaque Seeker, on the shorter 3 month schedule. Replace any tip sooner if it looks worn, bent or clogged.
The makers' schedules
- Waterpik Precision6 months
- Waterpik Implant Denture6 months
- Waterpik Orthodontic3 months
- Waterpik Plaque Seeker3 months
- Waterpik Pik Pocket3 months
- COSLUS tips3 months
The Waterpik figures come from its tips guide, and its FAQ gives 3 to 6 months for hygiene and performance. The COSLUS figure comes from the COSLUS C20 listing. We did not find a replacement schedule for the Philips tips on the support pages we read today, so check the manual for the Philips Power Flosser 3000.
How many tips a year that means
| Schedule | Tips per person per year | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Every 6 months | 2 | Waterpik Precision tip |
| Every 3 months | 4 | Waterpik Orthodontic or Plaque Seeker, COSLUS tips |
If two people share a countertop flosser, double it. Each person needs their own tip.
Replace sooner if
- The bristles on a brush tip are splayed or flattened.
- The stream sprays sideways or feels weak after you have cleaned the unit.
- The tip is cracked or bent. Waterpik says not to use a Pik Pocket tip that has come apart from its shaft.
Cleaning does not change the schedule
Waterpik's cleaning guide says to soak the tip in 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water for 5 minutes, clean the unit once a month, and replace tips every 3 to 6 months. Waterpik ties cleaning to mineral buildup and lost pressure. It still gives a separate replacement schedule, so a clean tip is not a new tip. See how to clean a water flosser.
Tips are brand specific
Waterpik notes that not all of its tips fit all of its flossers. Buy tips made for your model. The Waterpik Aquarius comes with 7 tips, so a household can start with one each. The catch: Waterpik puts the bristle tips in that set on the 3 month schedule, so plan on replacements. For what each tip type does, see the tips guide.
Compare all five picks in the shortlist, or check any listing in the run time calculator.
Check with your dentist. This page is general information, not dental advice. Your dentist or hygienist knows your mouth and your dental work, so ask them which tip, pressure and routine suit you before you start.