The invention relates to a switching device for an irrigation line comprising two flexible supply tubes (4a, 4b), each of said tubes connecting a flask containing an irrigation fluid to a handpiece by means of a peristaltic pump. The inventive device is characterised in that it comprises at least one compression element (34a, 34b) and control means (32) which can apply said compression element alternatively to each of the flexible supply tubes (4a, 4b) in such a way as to squeeze and block the tube. The control means (32) are designed such that, when one of the tubes is being squeezed in order to block the passage of the fluid through same, the other tube is not being squeezed so that the fluid can flow through said other tube.