Key Takeaways
Lawmakers in Florida have passed a bill to ban fluoride in public drinking water
Health experts say removing fluoride could harm dental health
Utah has already enacted a ban, and other states could soon follow
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Florida state lawmakers have approved a bill to ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water, a move that public health experts say could harm dental health across the state.
The bill now heads to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval. DeSantis has criticized fluoridation in the past, calling it “forced medication.” The aim of fluoridation is to prevent tooth decay, especially in kids.
If signed, the law would make Florida the second state to ban water fluoridation. A ban in Utah is set to begin May 7, The Washington Post reported.
The fluoride ban is part of a larger farm bill and would prevent local governments from using any additives in drinking water, even if they are necessary to improve quality or meet safety standards.
A group representing dentists sharply criticized the move.
“Water fluoridation has been researched for more than 80 years, and overwhelming, credible scientific evidence consistently indicates that fluoridation of community water supplies is safe and effective at preventing and repairing tooth decay,” Jeff Ottley, president of the Florida Dental Association, said in a statement.
Earlier this month, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would stop the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from recommending flouride, though HHS later said it would form a task force to study the issue.
Kennedy recently cited an August 2024 federal report that linked high fluoride levels with lower IQs in children.
“The more you get, the stupider you are, and we need smart kids in this country,” he said.
The report emphasized that the findings don’t apply to the low levels of fluoride found in U.S. drinking water, however.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also plans to re-examine the research on fluoride’s potential health risks.
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo became the nation's first top state health official to publicly oppose fluoride in water. Since then, more than a dozen other Florida communities have ended fluoridation.
Supporters of the ban say it should be about personal choice, The Post reported.
“This is not about fluoride. This is about your liberty,” Republican state Rep. Danny Alvarez told The Post.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, a Democrat, said the move ignores guidance from dentists and medical experts.
“Ending fluoridation will have long-lasting impact on health — especially for our most vulnerable families,” Cava said in a statement on X.
In Louisiana, a similar bill is gaining support, backed by Republican Surgeon General Ralph Abraham.
More information
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has more on fluoride in drinking water.
SOURCE: The Washington Post, April 30, 2025
What This Means For You
If Florida bans fluoride in drinking water, dental issues may rise.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.