A naturally occurring mineral found in many foods and water, fluoride can help make your tooth enamel stronger, fortifying your teeth against acid and cavities.  It is also believed to help reverse early decay and is especially important for children as it assists with the development of permanent teeth.  It comes in lots of different forms. The most common way we get fluoride is from fluoridated toothpaste and mouth rinses. Those available over the counter are fairly low in strength - a prescription from a doctor or dentist is needed for stronger concentrations.  Fluoride is sometimes applied to your teeth by a dentist following treatment. This will be a much stronger dose than contained in your toothpaste and is usually applied as a gel or varnish. You can also get fluoride supplements, although - again - these must be prescribed by a doctor or dentist. You may have heard that there are risks involved in using fluoride. However, fluoride is only hazardous when too much is used. This is why it is important to supervise children when they are brushing their teeth, as they only need a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. This also explains why high-strength fluoride products are only available with a prescription. Learn more about the pros and cons of fluoridation.