[Alternative ways of fluoride supplementation in childhood (author's transl)].

Fluorine is a nutritionally essential trace element. Fluoride concentration in drinking water of West Germany is very low, with rare exceptions. Fluoride intake with food therefore is inadequate. Consequently, for maintenance of normal dental health, fluoride has to be supplemented by some way. A number of methods of fluoride supplementation are being discussed in this paper and compared to drinking waster fluoridation.