Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 Review

The Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 is a unique option with its powerful electric toothbrush and water flosser. It cleaned exceptionally well and tackled commonly missed areas. Unfortunately, it was not the most comfortable option — especially for those with sensitive gums. Additionally, it has one of the shortest battery lives and can only be charged with the water flosser dock, making it a bad option for long travels. This is a great product for those specifically interested in a water flosser or if you have braces.

Cleaning

Cleaning is our most important metric, which is why it is worth 40% of the overall score. We based our scores on plaque removal tests, comparing before and after pictures of each product. The combination of the water flosser and toothbrush removed almost all of the plaque for our testers, especially in commonly missed places.

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The water flosser is definitely the impressive part of this combination. With 10 power settings and five tips, the water flosser removed almost all of the plaque that the toothbrush missed. However, the flosser proved to be a bit messy. Especially with higher settings, the water splashed off of our teeth, requiring some post-use cleanup.

Comfort

Recognizing the significance of comfort in a toothbrush, the Waterpik Complete Care 9.0 performed well in our cleaning test but fell on the less comfortable side. Judges rated it lower in comfort, factoring in both the toothbrush and water flosser. The toothbrush lacks a sensitive mode and pressure sensor, though we didn't find it overbearing. However, with just about every setting, the toothbrush caused splashing. Weighing in at 5 ounces, it also ranked among the heaviest we assessed. Comfort with the water flosser is somewhat subjective, varying based on individual tolerance levels. We found it to be too harsh on the higher settings (seven to 10) and not powerful enough on the lower end of the spectrum.

Ease of Use

Next, we assessed how easy this product was to use. Our evaluation criteria included ease of switching between brushing modes, cleaning convenience, the presence of a two-minute timer, and storage for additional brush heads. The Waterpik's toothbrush was pleasingly straightforward to switch between modes. There are two separate buttons for the power and mode, removing the frustration of accidentally shutting off the toothbrush while trying to change modes. A small LED light indicates the mode currently in use. Thirty-second intervals are indicated with a quick buzz, and a two-minute timer shuts off the toothbrush.

The water flosser was somewhat easy to use. A large button on the side of the dial powers the device while the dial changes the intensity of the water pressure. The flosser handle has an on/off switch to start the water flow. Powering the device was very easy. However, complications did arise with the ensuing mess on the bathroom mirror. This was remedied with a bit of practice.

Battery Life

Our battery life test included running these brushes twice daily for a standard cleaning cycle of two minutes. We noted when the toothbrushes died and assigned a score accordingly. The Waterpik toothbrush scored about average on our battery life test, lasting 28.5 days. While the battery life isn't as impressive as some, you should be able to confidently travel on a full charge for extended periods. This brush is only chargeable on the water flosser dock, so it would be challenging to travel with the entire setup. However, the kit includes an impressive travel case for the toothbrush and flosser tips.

Should You Buy the Waterpik Complete Care 9.0?

The combination of the electric toothbrush and water flosser makes the Waterpik a great option for the right person. This combination is great for those specifically interested in a water flosser. However, we wouldn't recommend this kit for those with sensitive gums.

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