The control mechanism (18) for a pressurized-gas oral cleaning appliance (10) includes a hollow valve member (44) for receiving gas from a pressurized source thereof (14) and for delivering gas to a gas exit assembly. The hollow valve member includes a rear end portion (48) having a shoulder (58) which surrounds a cavity portion (65). The valve member includes a valve wall (63) having a circumferential groove (64) and a plurality of openings (66) which connect the groove to the hollow interior of the valve member. A gas releasing assembly includes a user-activated actuation member (26) and a pusher member (36), wherein movement of the actuation member moves the pusher member and the valve in a forward direction to a first position where gas enters the hollow interior of the valve. Further forward movement of the actuation member results in the valve member aligning with the pusher member in such a relationship that the valve member moves rearwardly by action of a spring (67) to a second position where the gas in the valve member exits through the openings and the groove to a gas exit line (68).La présente invention concerne un mécanisme de commande (18) pour appareil de nettoyage de la cavité buccale à gaz sous pression (10), comprenant un élément de type valve creuse (44) recevant le gaz en provenance dune source de gaz sous pression (14) et lamenant jusquà un ensemble assurant la sortie du gaz. Ledit élément de type valve creuse comprend une partie terminale arrière (48) comportant un épaulement (58) entourant une partie en forme de cavité (65). Lélément de type valve comprend une paroi de valve (63) dans laquelle sont creusées une rainure périphérique (64) et une pluralité douvertures (66) reliant ladite rainure à lintérieur creux de lélément de type valve. Un ensemble assurant la libération du gaz comprend un élément dactionnement activé par lutilisateur (26), ainsi quun élément pousseur (36), le déplacement de lélément dactionnement faisant avancer lélément pou
