Skip to page content Individuals & Enrollees Dentists Employers Administrators Brokers About Us Legal Notices Contact Us Delta Dental en Español mp_trans_remove_start mp_trans_remove_end ie6 hack ie6 hack ie6 hack Oral Health Home Articles Column 1 start CONTENTS GO HERE ARTICLE Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral compound found in water and soil. It is also present in foods and beverages at varying concentrations. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the entire tooth surface more resistant to acid attacks from the bacteria that live in the plaque on your teeth. Fluoride also promotes remineralization (adding minerals such as calcium back in to your teeth), which aids in repairing early decay before a cavity (hole) forms in the tooth. There are two ways to increase fluoride protection: topical and systemic applications. Topical f...