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No one wants to spend hours flossing their teeth, especially when there are so many other fun things to do. That’s why Philips Sonicare AirFloss Ultra is such a great solution! This revolutionary dental device can help you get the cleanest teeth ever without spending hours in front of the mirror. We put this product to the test and here’s what we found out:
The Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra makes oral hygiene easier than ever before. With its advanced sonic technology, it blasts away plaque-causing bacteria with a powerful burst of air and water droplets. The best part is that only takes 60 seconds per day to use! Plus, it’s safe for braces and dental implants, so everyone can enjoy a cleaner mouth.
The Airfloss Ultra is currently the best oral irrigator from Sonicare – nevertheless, it is not suitable for everyone. A comprehensive review of our experience.
The smaller sister model, the regular Sonicare Airfloss, has already won me over as an all-around great oral irrigator.
- The devices of Sonicare rely on a mixture of compressed air & water to rid the interdental spaces of impurities.
- This allows them to eliminate the need for large water tanks, and their slim design makes them easy to use.
Now Philips sends the Ultra version into the race, which is equipped with new features such as adjustable pressure surges and thus should clean even better.
One of the best mobile oral irrigators with particularly gentle, but still thorough cleaning.
Great features with small improvements to the normal Airfloss
At first glance, the Airfloss Ultra appears to have the same high-quality finish as the standard model.
The handpiece is studded on the sides to prevent accidental slipping. The housing of the redesigned spray head is transparent and looks classy together with the white of the rest of the oral irrigator.
At the back, you fill the device with liquid through a small opening, which is easy to do after a little practice.
The circumference of the Airfloss Ultra turns out to be a bit large because of the tank.
- Adults will have no problems, but children may need some help operating the oral irrigator.
- The full handpiece is in contrast to comparable devices but still comfortable to hold and never too heavy.
Compared with the normal variant, the tank has been slightly enlarged, which means you have to fill the oral irrigator less often – for this I gladly accept a little more weight.
The spray button is convenient to reach
Better than the competition, Philips has solved the operation – the triggering of the sprays succeeds through the large button on the back quite easily.
Mobile oral irrigators offer some advantages in use – for example, you are not tied to the sink, but can clean your interstitial spaces anywhere.
Even with one hand, the Airfloss remains easy to use.
- In addition, the scope of delivery still includes a charging station (whose cable is slimmer compared to the normal variant), which is identical in construction to those of the manufacturer’s toothbrushes.
- So if you already own a sonic toothbrush from Philips, you can charge it together with the Airfloss Ultra and save space in the bathroom.
This is extremely convenient, especially when traveling.
All in all, the workmanship of the Philips device is convincing, I have not noticed any real weaknesses. The equipment offers some thoughtful details such as cleaning our interdental spaces need.
Note: A comparison of the various manufacturers can be found here: The best oral irrigators in the test
Fast & thorough interdental cleaning
The normal version already cleaned my teeth without any problems. The Sonicare Airfloss Ultra tries to top that result with adjustable sprays
To that end, it has a step control (complete with LED indicator) on the back.
Tip: If you wish, you can also fill the Airfloss with a mouthwash – which will freshen your breath.
There you can set whether a short press on the spray button should trigger 1, 2 or 3 bursts (the standard model has to do without such settings).
This feature adds real value compared to the manual spray bursts of the regular Airfloss:
In testing, I had to push around significantly less when cleaning. After a few passes, cleaning the interdental spaces is quick and convenient.
The adjustable pressure strokes make cleaning much more comfortable.
You should know about this before you buy:
The Sonicare Airfloss Ultra uses compressed air, which presses the filled liquid through the interdental space to dislodge debris.
This results in lower water consumption and some advantages: the tank doesn’t run out as quickly and the Airfloss comes with a lighter handpiece compared to other oral irrigators.
A disadvantage of this design is the rather loud operating noise, which is unpleasant when first used. Over time, I got used to it, but audible still remains the device.
However, fortunately, the Airfloss does not hum all the time – but only briefly when the button is activated.
The following recordings give an impression of the volume of the oral irrigator:
Philips Sonicare Airfloss Pro vs Ultra Rechargeable
It feels like the Sonicare interdental cleaner sprays a bit more gently than the regular version.
On the one hand, this means that you sometimes need more bursts of pressure – on the other hand, it is also gentle on the gums.
The regular Airfloss is – surprisingly – stronger.
Of course, you should still keep your mouth closed while using it to avoid splashing water around.
Whether the gentle mode of action is better or worse depends on your own preferences.
Some users will certainly appreciate the powerful jolts of the regular Sonicare Airfloss, but others (especially people with sensitive gums) will prefer the Ultra’s more delicate action.
But basically both variants convince, because both the normal and the Ultra Airfloss provide clean teeth:
A great addition to daily tooth brushing
The oral irrigator removes impurities without any problems and provides a fresh feeling in the mouth.
The handling is efficient and convenient – after about 30 seconds, the denture is completely cleaned.
For those who struggle with flossing, here’s a great alternative. In combination with an electric toothbrush, the oral flosser offers a more than convincing basis for optimal dental care.
Only in the case of really stubborn food residues is mechanical removal necessary, because even the best oral irrigators cannot completely replace classic dental floss.
But this is the case with only about 1x per week and does not bother further.
Can the Ultra stand out from the normal Airfloss?
In terms of cleaning, the Sonicare Airfloss Ultra is therefore beyond reproach. The cleaning result is convincing and goes above all comfortably from the hand. The difference to the normal variant could be a little clearer for my taste.
Nevertheless, the Airfloss Ultra can justify its extra price. Especially people with sensitive gums will recognize in the gentler pressure shock a clear added value.
Battery and durability
The water tank is generously sized and lasts for just under 2 applications. This is fine, because for this Airfloss Ultra is significantly smaller than conventional oral irrigators.
Whoever wants can also fill in a mouth rinse in addition to normal water.
- During the test period, I did not notice any functional defects, and the workmanship of the oral irrigator seems extremely solid.
- Despite this, some users on Amazon complain about defects. In such a case, it is best to make use of the generous warranty.
Supplement: Even after more than 16 months of use, the Airfloss Ultra works as usual. Problems with the processing or even defects I have not noticed so far.
The waterproof housing & a strong battery convince
The handpiece of the oral irrigator is waterproof and can be easily cleaned by rinsing to ensure the longest possible durability.
- Every 6 months, you should also replace the spray heads with a replacement nozzle to prevent too many germs from accumulating.
- A great strength of the Airfloss Ultra is the battery, which lasted a good three weeks in the test.
Philips relies on lithium-ion technology here, which is why the power does not drop even when the battery level is low, but is delivered evenly.
So the device offers excellent performance in this regard and has more than sufficient reserves.
Conclusion: the (almost) best oral irrigator
The Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra is a great interdental cleaner that comes along without any major weaknesses (if you’re into mobile devices).
Is the Airfloss Ultra therefore the best mouthwash available?
The cleaning performance is very good and provides fresh interdental spaces. The battery is sufficient even for longer trips and the mobile handpiece I like the concept much better than stationary oral irrigators with hose (where I am always tied to the sink).
But it may be that you prefer the more powerful, stationary oral irrigators – with which the Airfloss can’t quite keep up (it’s best to check out the oral irrigator comparison).
Is the Ultra worth the extra cost?
The significantly higher price compared to the normal Airfloss is not justified for most users. For this purpose, the differences are simply too small, which puts pressure on the price-performance ratio.
Most users will therefore be just as satisfied with the cheaper Sonicare Airfloss.
However, if you have sensitive gums or see real value in the adjustable bursts of pressure, you may well give the Airfloss Ultra a chance.
Taken on its own, it is in fact the best mobile oral irrigator on the market. No other device offers such a successful combination of cleaning, comfort & design.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc0VyUhHxd0
Advice on choosing the right interdental cleaning device
When it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene, brushing your teeth twice a day is not the only way to keep your mouth healthy. Cleaning between your teeth is just as important, if not more so, than brushing. The gaps between your teeth are the perfect hiding spot for bacteria, plaque, and food particles that your toothbrush can’t reach. That’s where interdental cleaning devices come in.
There are several options when it comes to interdental cleaning devices that you can choose from. The most common are dental floss, interdental brushes, and water flossers. Each of these devices has its own benefits, and the one that is best for you will depend on several factors.
Dental floss is the most common option for cleaning between your teeth. It’s affordable, easy to use, and travel-friendly. If you have tight spaces between your teeth, a waxed or Teflon-coated floss might be easier to use. However, flossing can be challenging for people with limited dexterity or arthritis in their hands.
Interdental brushes, also known as interproximal brushes, are small brush heads that can be used to clean between your teeth. They are available in different sizes to fit the spaces between your teeth. Interdental brushes are particularly useful if you have gaps between your teeth or if you have braces or other dental appliances.
Water flossers are devices that use a stream of water to clean between your teeth. They are an excellent option for people with braces, implants, or other dental appliances. They are also a good choice if you have difficulty using dental floss or interdental brushes.
In conclusion, choosing the right interdental cleaning device will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Consider your dental situation, personal oral hygiene needs, and how easily you can handle the device before settling on an option. No matter which device you choose, make sure you use it consistently to ensure good oral hygiene and a healthy smile.
