Before the invention of the toothbrush, people used a variety of tools to clean their teeth, including:
Chew sticks: A thin twig with a frayed end that was used to brush teeth and freshen breath.
Chew sticks date back to 3500 BC and were used in many countries, including Egypt and Babylon.
Toothpicks: Used by the Greeks and Romans to clean their teeth.
Bleaching: The ancient Romans used human urine and crushed bones to whiten their teeth.
They also added powdered charcoal or sodium carbonate for a foaming effect.