Overexposure to fluoride ions (F-) causes serious diseases in human beings. Extensive efforts have been made to develop sensitive and selective approaches for F- detection and a variety of F- sensors have been constructed recently. The burgeoning nanotechnology has provided novel materials for F- analysis due to the extraordinary properties of nanomaterials. In this review, we present the recent advances in different nanomaterials-based approaches for the optical F- detection via colorimetric, fluorescent and chemiluminescent responses. The materials include gold nanomaterials, CeO2 nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, carbon quantum dots, metal-organic frameworks, upconversion nanoparticles, micellar nanoparticles, polymer dots, SiO2 nanoparticles and graphene oxide. The recent trends and challenges in the optical detection of F- with various nanomaterials are also discussed.