Can Toothpaste Repair Car Paint Scratches?
2 Answers
Toothpaste does have the effect of removing minor scratches on car paint, but it cannot be expected to completely eliminate scratches. Here are the drawbacks of using toothpaste to remove car surface scratches: 1. Since toothpaste is not specifically designed for repairing car scratches, it will not permanently adhere to the scratches. A heavy rain can wash away the toothpaste completely. 2. Toothpaste is more suitable for removing scratches on light-colored car paint. For dark-colored car paint, this method may cause the treated area to appear whitish, resulting in the opposite effect. Therefore, it should be used with caution on dark-colored car paint. 3. Never use toothpaste with particles, especially those with abrasive particles, as they can damage the paint during the rubbing process, making the scratches more noticeable.
I once used toothpaste to deal with shallow scratches on my car, and it seemed somewhat effective under certain circumstances. The abrasive ingredients in toothpaste, such as aluminum oxide, can fill in extremely fine lines, making the scratches less visually noticeable. If your car paint only has minor marks caused by branches or daily friction, gently rubbing with a soft cloth dipped in white toothpaste can help—just remember to apply light pressure to avoid damaging the clear coat. For deeper scratches, like those exposing the primer, toothpaste won’t work at all and will only waste your time, possibly even worsening the condition since it doesn’t truly repair the paint protection layer. I recommend testing a small area with a clean, damp cloth first to see the effect before applying it more broadly. Preventing scratches in the first place is more important—like parking away from obstacles or regularly waxing to keep the surface smooth. In short, toothpaste is only a temporary emergency solution, not a permanent fix. For serious damage, it’s better to visit a professional auto shop for proper repainting to avoid wasting money on ineffective repairs.
