By any measure, this is a superior product. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. First of all, I have found that ANY decent model of oral irrigator / aqua flosser successfully removes more bits of food / debris from between my teeth than simply brushing and flossing alone. Try this yourself by brushing and flossing, and THEN using your oral irrigator/aqua flosser, particularly after a meal which leaves a lot of debris stuck to your teeth and along your gum line, and when you spit into the sink, you will see what I mean. I have only my personal experience to back up this hypothesis, but I strongly believe that persons who use an oral irrigator / aqua flosser regularly after eating will have healthier teeth and gums in the long run than persons who do not use one. I plan on living as long as the rest of my body will allow, so dental care has become a very high priority in my life. Take care of your teeth (and body) now and they will take care of you! The best thing about using an oral irrigator, perhaps, is that it takes very little additional time out of your day – 30 seconds per session is sufficient in my experience. I use my oral irrigator after each time I eat (after every meal and snack), allowing me to clean between my teeth, eliminate the buildup of would-be cavity-causing foodstuffs wedged between my teeth and along the gum line, and also avoid excessive brushing (I still brush 2-3x per day). Combine this oral irrigator with a Sonicare or similar high quality electric toothbrush and Oral B Glide dental tape (wider and more shred-resistant than standard/cheap dental floss – it will remove more debris and is less likely to make your gums bleed), and, depending on your diet, your dentist / hygienist will tell you that you are doing a PERFECT job of taking care of your teeth. I just went in for a dental cleaning – it had been a full calendar year since my last one – and my hygienist reported, highly impressed, that I had very little plaque or tartar and was doing an excellent job at caring for my teeth and gums. NOW THEN, WHY IS THIS PANASONIC MODEL SUPERIOR TO ITS COMPETITORS? I see THREE REASONS, right off the bat: FIRST: it is powered by REMOVABLE AA cell batteries. This means that the life of this oral irrigator is not limited to the lifespan of an internal rechargeable battery. Most models of oral irrigators I have seen rely on internal batteries, which are often Ni-MH or Ni-Cad, which will degrade over time. (In fact, before I bought this Panasonic model, I purchased a Waterpik brand oral irrigator from Target, about 2 years ago. I have been very pleased with this model, but by now the battery life is beginning to diminish noticeably. It still does a great job of cleaning between my teeth and along the gum line, but it is on the decline, and it also takes up twice as much space in my little medicine cabinet as compared with the Panasonic model.) That being said, I recommend using RECHARGEABLE AA cell batteries, for the savings in $$, time, electricity/energy, and waste, as compared with disposable alkaline AA cells. AND, if you are traveling internationally and don’t have access to electrical power, you can swap out batteries or find disposable alkaline AA cells in many countries. P.S. the tool-free battery compartment with O-ring stays tightly shut & waterproof, but is easy to open with a coin or washer or similar item. SECOND: this unit collapses to take up minimal space when not in use. I find this just as useful when traveling as when I am at home, because it is extremely space-efficient. THIRD: Because of the way the water intake straw is designed (it is spring-loaded and reaches to the very bottom of the water compartment), this model of oral irrigator provides a steady stream of water until the tank is essentially completely empty. Some other models of oral irrigator, such as my original Waterpik one, do not do so well in this regard. My only critique thus far is that there is no carrying case included, but for this price point (I paid $27 on Amazon for my Panasonic model in May 2016 and then as a Christmas present for a family member, I bought a second one and paid $30 on Newegg in December 2016 – both quite a bit cheaper than the Waterpik model I purchased a couple of years prior), this is a fantastic model of oral irrigator / aqua flosser, and, hey, Ziploc bags are ubiquitous, cheap, and come in a wide range of sizes. I recommend carrying it in a Ziploc bag if you are traveling between uses, to keep remaining drips of water from spilling into your suitcase / backpack. And I do like the 2 water pressure settings (low and high pressure), which my original Waterpik model also has. BATTERY LIFE: I am highly impressed: the first one month of use, “aqua flossing” after each meal and snack, I was able to get an ENTIRE MONTH out of my Panasonic oral irrigator before recharging the batteries. This is WAY BEYOND the capacity of my Waterpik model, which (as stated in the user’s manual) should be charged twice weekly if using it 2 or more times per day. So there you have it, folks! I rarely write product reviews but have been so mightily impressed by the design and features and capabilities of this Panasonic oral irrigator that I couldn’t help but share my experience with the world. Hopefully it at least inspires you to buy / ask for and begin using an aquaflosser regularly. You won’t regret it, and your teeth and gums will feel noticeably cleaner after each post-meal use. Best Regards, David S., Montana, U.S.A.
