Panasonic EW-DJ40 DentaCare Cordless Rechargeable Oral Irrigator

I ordered my water flosser in Feb 2012. I've been using it daily, sometimes several times a day, since then and it's still going strong.I decided to give the Panasonic brand a go based on the high average Amazon ratings that brand had at the time (and still has). I haven't been disappointed. It's proven to be a very effective device for deep-cleaning my gumline and between my teeth. It's also proven to be very reliable.I use mine a minimum of once a day (at night). I also frequently use it after meals. It's amazing how many food particles it flushes out, particularly if you've just eaten something like cereal. Those particles would otherwise hang around your mouth for hours until you got the chance to floss properly at night. Even when you leave using the device until hours after you've eaten and after you've flossed conventionally using physical dental floss, this device usually manages to dislodge some fragments of food that brushing and flossing alone hasn't quite managed to dislodge.All-in-all I'm very glad I got one. At this juncture, I'm thinking of buying another one, so I can keep one in my desk drawer at work for cleaning after lunch and one at home. It only takes about two minutes to go along the inside and outside of your gumline once you get used to the technique, so it's handy to have one at work for cleaning after lunch.In terms of how to use the device, I tried a few different approaches, including using cold water, lukewarm water, and both neat and diluted mouthwash. I found that warm water worked best for me, and helped avoid shocking my teeth and gumline. The jet of water itself is pretty powerful, especially right after charging. So you need to be careful not to point the jet in the wrong direction, or to use too cold or harsh a fluid for cleaning.I find I need to recharge mine around once a week. That's enough to last 7 days, with 1-3 uses of 2-3 minutes apiece each day. Out of habit, I still use physical floss too, but I find it doesn't dislodge anything that hasn't already been cleaned out by this device (in contrast to what I find when I use the physical floss first, then use this device).I highly recommend it.Update, May 2014:I did indeed buy a second one of these devices recently. My original irrigator is still going strong, over two years later. And I still only need to charge it about once a week, occasionally a little sooner than that if I've been using it more than once a day. I can't fault this gadget in any way. It's been one of the best Amazon purchases I've made. Sitting the brand new version next to my two-year-old one is quite revealing of the quality of this product - the original has weathered well. I'll be glad to have a second one to use when I'm working away from home, as when working at home I've got used to being able to quickly but thoroughly clean my teeth after daytime meals. I can't recommend this product highly enough. Get one, you'll be glad you did.

The EW-DJ40 is the first product of this type I have used. I found it to be very effective at cleaning between my teeth and much faster than flossing or interdental brushing as well as causing less damage to my gums.It works well with warm water but very cold water straight from the tap can be a bit of a shock. It also works well with mouthwash. I had bad toothache and used this to squirt the area with Listerine Total mouthwash, which helped enormously. After a couple of days my tooth stopped hurting completely. Obviously it's rather expensive to use mouthwash all the time so I generally stick with warm water then use mouthwash normally afterwards.I found that it isn't at all messy so long as you bend over a basin to use it and always turn it off when you take it out of your mouth. If you just take it out and wave it round like an idiot then obviously it will keep squirting water or mouthwash everywhere. You would normally clean your teeth from the outside but the angled nozzle allows you to easily clean from the inside as well should you need to, although I find that I rarely need to do that.The EW-DJ40 will actually work upside down so long as the tube in the reservoir is in the water. You can achieve this by either using it upside down when it is full or by telescoping it closed to effectively make the reservoir smaller. The reservoir is just big enough to do your whole mouth if you're quick about it. If you take your time then you will need to fill it twice, or maybe more if you have OCD.The batteries seem to hold their charge well and the charger conveniently has a standard Europlug CEE 7/16 plug, which can also be used in a BS 4573 shaver socket. If you don't have a suitable socket then you can easily pick up a fused adapter for a pound or two.

July 2018 - 4 years and 1 month after initial purchase, the battery has finally died. I am purchasing a new one today.Other than some slight cleaning issues (see below) this has worked really well. Initially the battery when fully charged lasted 4 to 5 weeks, whereas for the last year it has lasted just a couple of weeks - but I cannot complain after it has worked so well for so long. I took to carrying the charging unit with me when I go away, but adds little to the weight of the cables I already carry on a long trip. And really helped my teeth - had huge problems with plaque but they have completely disappeared. now.If you have a problem cleaning the water tank either put it in the dishwasher, or leave it overnight with a water/bleach mix in it, then rinse well. I wash mine on a fortnightly basis and have no fur problems now.ORIGINAL REVIEW:This works well, and really does do the job of cleaning between teeth. If you have complex gaps between your teeth that trap food, I would heartily recommend it. Much better than my old much more expensive, Waterpic. If you have delicate gums run it on the lowest speed.The negatives - well the battery is very heavy - so not easily taken as part of your hand luggage on a short trip (You would have to ditch the clean shirt and trousers). Secondly, noticed after a month that it was rather mucky - there was fur beginning to grow on the inside of the plastic base which holds the water. I only noticed it because I took it apart when trying to consider the best way to pack it to go away. It was quite easily cleaned - I put the base in the dishwasher, but it takes quite some strength to pull the base off (not an older or disabled person's job in other words). I washed the tube that collects the water by letting it run and pull a mix of bleach and water through it, then rinsing it well. I put the actual 'squirter' to soak in a mix of bleach and water, and again then rinsed it well. I do think anyone who buys this needs to ensure they clean it out on a monthly basis.