My dentist recommends the water pick over flossing, probably because people are far more likely to use that than floss. It may be less effective than regular flossing, but I’m certain it’s more effective than rarely flossing.
She also recommended I upgrade to an electric toothbrush, but all the ones I tried tickled my cheeks, gums, and lips so bad it was unbearable. Turns out most of them just vibrate, but there are ones with rotational heads similar to what dentists use when cleaning your teeth. I snagged an Oral-B 1000 Pro on sale for under $40 and it’s a game changer - no tickling, teeth feel ultra clean, and it’s dirt cheap for a quality electric toothbrush.
The sooner you do it the easier it’s gonna be. Just bite the bullet and get it done, and schedule your 6 month follow up visit before you leave. I went more than a decade and getting back to normal - multiple deep cleanings - was rough. But once you get back to normal, just take it easy on the sugary sodas, brush twice a day, and floss or water pik more often than never and those visits are quick. I go every 6 months and it’s still just as uncomfortable, but they’re done in a couple minutes instead of 10-15.