Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser review: Pump out the jam
The Oclean AirPump A10 is a compact, portable water flosser, but be prepared for an onslaught of water and air from the moment you turn it on.
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Pros
- Easier than traditional floss
- 40 days battery life
- Compact, lightweight design
Cons
- Doesn't stop pumping
- Nozzle isn't fixed direction - rotates as you use it
- Australian price is absurd
It’s been 12 years since I last reviewed a water flosser. The Philips Airfloss was a great product, until it suddenly decided to stop working on me a few years back. Since then, it’s been manual flossing for me.
So when the opportunity to test the Oclean AirPump A10 came up, I thought it would be a good opportunity to see just how far the technology has come since 2012.
The A10 is a chunkier unit than my old Philips Airfloss, but that’s not the most significant difference. The big difference is how it works, and I have to say, I don’t love Oclean’s approach to controls.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning.
What is the AirPump A10 offering?
@bttr_reviews Another day, another unboxing. Today, I take a look at the Oclean AirPump A10 water flosser. #unboxing #reviews #tech #oclean #waterfloss
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If you’ve never used a water flosser before, the concept is pretty simple. They use either water or a combination of air and water, pumped out at a reasonable amount of pressure, to clean the spaces between your teeth and gums.
The Oclean doesn’t just use a hard jet of water. By combining it with pressurised air, water flossers can dislodge food more gently.
The Oclean AirPump A10 compresses air to 150kPA and then releases it in 0.14 seconds, mixing it with water from its on-board reservoir to clean out those pockets in your gums. Oclean says that each pump is up to 98% air, making it more gentle on the gums.
The AirPump A10 offers three different cleaning modes. Standard, Soft and Massage mode. This varies the pressure of the air and water being pumped out, but also the rate at which it does so. I’ll get into that a bit more later, though.
The A10 also comes with the option of two different nozzles — with one each in the box. The standard nozzle is suitable for most people, while the orthodontic nozzle is for people with braces.
While it’s shorter and fatter than the old Philips model I used to use, this does make it a bit more portable. Measuring at 105.42 × 69.65 mm, the A10 comfortably fits inside a toiletry bag when travelling. The nozzle easily attaches and stores in the water reservoir as well.
The unit is IPX7 water-resistant rated, with a mould-resistant body. Battery life is rated to 40 days, and it is easily charged by a USB-C port on the bottom of the unit.
What does the AirPump A10 do well?
Last night I made a tasty beef salad, and ended up with small bits of beef stuck between my teeth. A couple of minutes with the AirPump A10 saw a lot of that beef washed down the sink.
Which is to say that the A10 does what it’s supposed to. I won’t even pretend to argue whether it’s more effective than a traditional flossing, but it seems to work.
On my last dental visit, I was asked to try a water flosser to help clear out some periodontal pockets in my gums, which normal floss was struggling to clean out effectively. So I imagine, it’s going to be hitting those areas quite well.
That said, I have a couple of teeth that are pretty tight, and I wonder how well the water flosser is getting through that tight gap. On most teeth, I can feel the water coming through to my tongue on the other side, but this particular gap it’s much harder to feel.
I’m going to say that the best option is a combination of regular flossing and water flossing. That undoubtedly reduces the appeal of the A10, but if it saves you a heap of pain at the dentist later on, is probably worth it.
What could the AirPump A10 improve?
The biggest difference between the Oclean and my old Philips AirFloss is the controls. With the Philips model, you were controlling the time and space. You lined up the nozzle and pressed the button and it would spray. If you felt the need to pump a few times, you would do that by pressing the button a few times.
The Oclean starts pumping from the second you turn it on, and on standard mode especially, it pumps fast. Like 180 times a minute fast (I tried to measure it with a metronome, so that’s an approximation).
On the Soft setting, it’s still 120 times a minute, while massage mode is closer to 100 times a minute.
For me, it’s overwhelming. There’s water spraying constantly, making it difficult to adjust the nozzle to the right spot between your teeth without water spraying everywhere, or dribbling out of your mouth.
I ended up turning the pump on and off between every tooth, but I still don’t understand why Oclean opted for this rapid automated pumping rather than a manual pump control.
The whole situation is made more difficult by the fact the nozzle isn’t locked in, it can rotate around. Thi means while you’re trying to clean out the gaps in your rear teeth, the nozzle might spin a bit, sending jets of air and water into your cheek.
Frankly, It was a messier (and less enjoyable) experience than the last water flosser I tested. I’m sure there’s a reason for the automatically on approach to flossing, but I can’t say I’m a fan.
Then there's the price.
This product is available exclusively through Shaver Shop in Australia, with an RRP of $229.95. In the US, its RRP is US$59.99, which works out at about $95. Even adding a 20% sales tax, you'r still only looking at $115, which means there's a $100+ markup on the price of this product.
This was a similar situation to the Oclean X Ultra S smart toothbrush as well. Which means somebody is having a laugh here, and it's likely to be at your expense.
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Verdict
There’s a hell of a lot that goes on inside your mouth, so it’s important to look after it as best you can. The Oclean AirPump A10 offers the promise of air and water to clean out the space between your teeth and gums.
And it does what it says it will do. It is satisfying to see bits of food removed after use.
But the decision to automate the pumping rate, at roughly three times a second no less, is overwhelming. It’s challenging to line up the nozzle with the gaps, and you end up with too much liquid in your mouth.
Maybe this is a “me” problem. In writing this review, I did some research into what other reviewers were saying about the product and nobody complained about the constant pumping, though some did mention the noise.
Ultimately, I’d suggest having a chat with your dentist before you pick one of these up. And whatever you do, don't buy it at full price.
