How to Clean a Waterpik Tip

Clean tips to prevent bacteria

Used in combination with proper brushing and flossing techniques, the Waterpik is a good addition to your oral-hygiene routine. Oral irrigators are good for removing tiny bits of food from between your teeth and stimulating the gum tissue. Since the removable tips are in contact with saliva, they can harbor germs and bacteria if not properly cleaned and stored.

Things You'll Need

• Small glass tumbler
• Water
• Bleach
• Paper towel
• Dish soap
• Microwave
• Heatproof glass bowl
• Small proxabrush (from dental aisle)

Instructions

1. Fill a small glass tumbler with water and add a spoonful of bleach. Remove the plastic tip from your Waterpik immediately after use and place it in the tumbler. It’s fine to store the tip in the bleach solution, or you can allow it to soak for a few minutes before placing it on a paper towel to dry.

2. Run a diluted bleach solution (with no more than 1/4 cup of bleach per 4 cups of hot water) through your Waterpik once a month to super-clean the tip and the entire machine. This will wipe out any bacteria that may have made their way from your mouth into the tube, which can happen if you leave the tip on the end of the hose after use. Bleach is the best anti-bacterial agent for use in oral irrigators.

3. Use hot, soapy water to clean your Waterpik tips and accessories. Hard-water stains and lime deposits may develop on the tips after a few weeks of use. A good hot cleaning will clear up the issue.

4. Pour hot tap water into a microwaveable glass bowl and add a few drops of liquid dish soap. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it until the water begins to boil. Add the Waterpik tips and accessories to the bowl, making sure the hot water covers them completely. Be careful not to scald yourself.

5. Microwave the bowl for 30 seconds longer. Allow the bowl and tips to soak until the water cools. Rinse the tips with clean water before storing.

6. 

   Clean tough stains or hardened debris from your Waterpik tip with a tiny proxabrush, designed for use between teeth and braces. These little brushes are inexpensive and fit easily into the tip of the Waterpik.

Tips & Warnings

• Replace cracked tips. Cracks harbor bacteria and germs.

• Avoid storing the tips in an airtight container while they are still wet. Allow the tips to dry to discourage the growth of bacteria.