The Bible mentions a resin used in the Mediterranean to freshen breath. Modern literature dealing with bad breath dates back to 1874, in a monograph by Joseph Howe

The first reference to mouthwash for treating the gums appears in Chinese medicine and dates to 2700 BC. It recommends using children's urine.
In the Roman period, the upper classes used mouthwashes and mechanical cleaning. Pliny recommended saline water.
Hippocrates recommended salt, aluminum and vinegar. A text in the 16th century recommended swilling the mouth with wine or beer after eating to avoid anything adhering to the teeth and leading to caries. Urine was highly recommended in the 18th century, due to its high concentration of salts, similar to those in the blood. Urea and ammonia were thought to play a therapeutic role.

Our ancestors' reason for using toothpicks was probably not for cleaning the teeth, but rather for removing irritating food stuck between the teeth.
Finely decorated gold toothpicks belonging to a personal hygiene kit from the Mesopotamian era have been discovered.
The Romans offered their guests toothpicks as part of their table settings. The ancient Chinese used bronze toothpicks. In 15th and 19th century Europe, the wealthiest citizens used gold or silver toothpicks stored in fine cases, which they used to show off with.
Therefore, as can be seen, toothpicks have traditionally been used for reasons other than for preserving teeth through oral hygiene.

The toothpick developed into a stick for chewing, which eventually resulted in the toothbrush, as a result of attempts to clean and shine the teeth using sponges and cloths.
Historians claim that the oldest toothbrushes were in China around the year 1000 AD with marble handles and horsehair bristles, although its primary development was recognized around 1498 with porcupine bristles and ox bone handles.
In the 17th and 19th centuries, the toothbrush started to be more commonly used and by the start of the 20th century its use was already widespread.
As porcupine bristles were very expensive, these were constantly replaced, until the advent of less expensive nylon bristles and wooden and plastic handles replaced the sophisticated handles of gold, silver, marble and other precious elements.
Today, not only are there modern toothbrushes for every need, but also electronic and so-called sonic toothbrushes.

Over the years, toothpastes have been used for cosmetic reasons, removing bad odors, strengthening teeth, relieving toothache and as a preventative measure against infectious diseases.
The Ebers papyrus, an Egyptian medical manual written in 1500 BC, summarizes a series of recipes for preparations to clean the teeth.
It is believed that Hippocrates was the first person to recommend the use of toothpaste. In his text "De Morbis Mulierum", in a section dedicated to "Women's Illnesses", he describes the Indian medication for cleaning teeth and giving the breath a gentle scent.
Throughout the ages, preparations have been used for cleaning the teeth, mainly with animal extracts.
On the other hand, bicarbonate and salt have also been widely used as a precursor to the modern dental creams and are among the ingredients of many toothpastes today.