I admit the chance to review the Oclean AirPump A10 water flosser led me into a rabbit hole. In all seriousness, I had to know how much more or less effective a water-pump could be at flossing than using mechanical means, like tapes or picks.
After some reading, looking at studies in respected journals and blog posts with ulterior marketing motives, I came to two conclusions: firstly, water flossing is as efficient at cleaning between teeth as using another mechanical method (tape, for example). And secondly, its gentler nature makes it a better option for people wearing braces or those who suffer with sensitive gums.
Armed with this knowledge I started using the Oclean AirPump A10 for this review.
The Oclean AirPump A10 is a bit different from other water pump devices as its form factor allows it to fit on your hand, unlike the other models in the market that resemble a toothbrush.
The plastic body is also kind of anti-slip, thanks to the knurling pattern used.
Because of its smaller size, the Oclean AirPump A10 holds just enough water for one clean cycle, which I think is a good thing, because I rather have fresh water for each time I clean my teeth. In fact, it’s recommended to completely empty the water reservoir between use, to allow it to dry and prevent bacterial growth.
It comes with two different nozzles, the standard one, with a soft rubber tip and the orthodontics, which is used to deep cleaning and recommended for those using braces. These will wear with use but replacement nozzles (which come in pairs) are available in the market.
Usage is simple. You insert the appropriate nozzle into the device and flip a rubber lid to fill the device with water. A button on the side of the device is the only control you have. You press it to turn the pump on or off, or long press to cycle between three different flossing modes.
My first experience was a surprise. It may take a couple of uses for coordinating it properly. You have to move the nozzle between your teeth and around the gum line. You touch the surfaces gently, as it’s not a toothbrush.
Water mixed with air is pumped out, dislodging any detritus between your teeth. Easy and effective. And you have to keep the nozzle very close to your teeth and gums, or keep your mouth shut, otherwise water will splash out, and there will be a mess. As I said, a couple of times and you will get the handle of it.
A LED ring will show different colours to indicate the current flossing mode in use These are standard (orange), soft (blue) and massage (green). I found that standard is too strong, so I tend to use soft mode. The massage mode is for those with very sensitive teeth or gums.
I was surprised when I first tried it on how noisy it was. There’s nothing wrong with it, just a powerful pump pushing a lot of water with air through.
As I used it, I realised how gentle it was, and I felt it did a good job of cleaning between my teeth, where standard toothbrushes can’t reach.
The water tank holds enough water for one cleaning cycle, so you will need to learn how long it lasts and how long you should concentrate between each tooth so that you don’t have to refill it midway through your routine (which is not a big deal, if you need to refill it, so be it). In fact, a small transparent window on the side is helpful to let you know how much water is left in the tank.
The instructions say it’s compatible with mouthwash liquids too, so you can use it to incorporate that step into your cleaning routine. I did not test this, though.
The battery lasts for a few cleaning cycles and it’s easy to recharge, using a USB-C cable. The specs say it can last up to 40 days, and I assume this would be with a daily cleaning session.
I think if you are in the market, looking for a way to better treat your month, it’s worth having a look at these little devices.
