The first toothbrushes were mere “chew sticks,” thin frayed twigs used to rub plaque and food residue off and from between teeth. Twisting and rubbing these sticks against their teeth, this was a small advancement from the previous method of using plants, feathers, or anything else to rub and clean the teeth. Some chew sticks were made from fragrant wood, used to freshen the breath. Early evidence of chew sticks has been traced back to Babylon, Egypt, and China.