from either end as to permit the cap to be affixed in either of two orientations in a second embodiment either the first end of the appliance body or the attachment bears a first means for reversibly affixing the cap and the second end of the appliance body bears a second means for reversibly affixing the cap the cap has a hollow interior a first end and a second end with the first end being open in order to fit over the dental tool the first end of the cap bears means for reversibly affixing the cap to the appliance body and or to the attachment so as to cover the dental tool and protect it from damage and contamination the cap is preferably closed at the second end in a preferred embodiment the attachment is reversibly affixed to the first end of the appliance body so that other attachments bearing different dental tools may be attached in a particularly preferred embodiment the attachment bears a second axially projecting dental tool projecting in the opposite direction of the first dental tool and is reversibly affixable to the appliance body in two orientations so that one tool is available for use while the other tool is stored within the tubular body of the appliance suitable dental tools for use with the appliance of the invention may be any of a number of dental hygiene implements including but not limited to picks scalers interproximal brushes prophy cups burnishing heads interdental stimulators stain removers toothbrush heads and the like the means for reversibly affixing the attachment to the appliance body may be.