A fluid delivery system of a dental cleaning appliance includes a fluid inlet, a pump for drawing a working fluid through the fluid inlet, a hydraulic accumulator for receiving working fluid from thepump, a nozzle having a fluid outlet, and a valve located between the accumulator and the nozzle. The valve has an open position for enabling the accumulator to deliver a burst of working fluid to thenozzle, and a closed position for enabling the accumulator to be replenished under the action of the pump. A control circuit actuates the pump and controls the position of the valve.