Abstract: A dental cleaning appliance includes a nozzle having a fluid chamber, a fluid outlet and a channel extending between the fluid chamber and the fluid outlet. A water reservoir provides water to a pump for generating a burst of pressurized water, which is supplied to the nozzle by a fluid conduit. Following the delivery of the burst of water to the teeth of the user, a valve draws water back into the fluid chamber from the channel to prevent that water from dripping from the fluid outlet before the next water burst is generated by the pump. Simultaneously, air may be drawn into the fluid chamber, for example, through the fluid outlet, for mixing with the next water burst to generate a fluid burst for delivery to the user's teeth.