BEST ORAL CARE IN ANNA NAGAR! Bad breath and stained teeth have been around as long as humans have. It was the Egyptians who started using a paste to clean their teeth. Back in 5000 BC, even before the invention of the toothbrush, Egyptians were cleaning their teeth and gums. The ingredients were designed to keep their gums clean, teeth white and breath fresh. These included a powder made from ox hooves, burnt eggshells and pumice rock. The Greeks and Romans preferred a more abrasive cleaning and used crushed bones and oyster shells. Ingredients added by the Romans helped tame bad breath. They often used powdered charcoal or bark. The Chinese relied on a different palate of flavorings including ginseng, herbal mints and even salt. Some ancient formulations included mint, dried iris flowers, pepper and even burnt bread. Many of these concoctions produced bleeding gums—rather than preventing them.