Despite the exhortations of dentists over the years, I don't floss. Probably because of my poor technique, flossing takes too long, causes bleeding, and I can never quite reach the teeth at the back of my mouth. But there's hope: The Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser uses water instead of dental floss, and requires less skill on my part. And while dentists say flossing is still better, I think having an oral irrigator like the Power Flosser is more suited for someone like me.

The Philips flosser comes with two types of nozzles, a standard one that blasts a single spray of water to remove bits of food between your teeth, and a special Quad Stream nozzle that shoots four water jets. The latter “cover more area between teeth and along the gum line”, which means you can quickly clean your entire mouth in a minute or so. While it does have more coverage, the intensity of the water jets isn't as strong, and hence the Quad Stream nozzle feels less effective. It can also be more messy. The jets can end up shooting up the wrong places, especially when I'm still getting the hang of it.

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There are three intensity levels, as well as two flossing modes. The standard Clean mode produces a constant continuous flow of water, while Deep Clean mode sends pulses of water. The highest intensity feels a tad too strong, especially when it hits the gums. The power button turns the flosser on and off. But I would have preferred having to press and hold the power button to keep the flosser running. I feel this would give me more control over the flosser. It's easier to release the button to stop the water flow instantly, rather than fumbling to press it. I must admit I got my shirt wet the first few times I used the flosser. In fact I ended up using it in the shower till I knew how to avoid making a mess.

You can rotate the nozzle by 360-degree to find the best angle, though I usually just rotate the flosser itself. This is helped by the fact that the flosser is cordless, which makes things so much more convenient. But that often means I have to top up the water tank halfway through my cleaning. I do like that the Philips flosser uses a USB-C port for charging. That's one fewer charger I need to bring on an overseas trip. I can simply use the same USB-C charger for my smartphone and laptop for the flosser. Philips also includes a travel bag for the flosser, as well as the charger and cable.

The Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser always manages to dislodge some food particles, despite my best attempt at brushing my teeth beforehand. That says everything about the effectiveness of the flosser (and also my toothbrushing skills). It's easier to use than dental floss, though it can get wet and messy till you get used to it. And I feel it helps to keep my teeth cleaner than they would be otherwise. However, dental floss is probably more effective for stuff that's really stuck in your teeth. The Philips flosser is available officially at S$219, but you can get it for cheaper at various online platforms, including Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon SG. Alternatively, this Xiaomi Soocas W3 Oral Irrigator is great, especially given its price.

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Note: Review unit provided by Philips.