Florida is poised to become the second U.S. state to eliminate fluoride from public water systems—a move that public health experts warn could reverse decades of dental health progress.
On Tuesday, the Florida House passed a bill that would ban certain water additives, including fluoride, by a vote of 88–27. The bill now awaits Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ signature, which is widely expected.
The health implications of this decision are significant. Fluoride has long been endorsed by leading health institutions—including the CDC, American Dental Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics—as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay.
Studies consistently show that fluoridated water reduces dental cavities by about 25%, particularly in children and underserved populations.
Opposition to fluoride has grown alongside anti-vaccine movements, driven in part by political rhetoric rather than scientific evidence. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr., who lacks medical or dental training, recently called fluoride “industrial waste” and questioned its systemic benefits. He has advocated for ending water fluoridation, a position that contradicts decades of public health research.
Many public health dentists and advocates are alarmed. “It’s disheartening,” said Dr. Tom Reid of the Wisconsin Dental Association. “We’re really trying to act in the best interest of community health.” They fear a rise in cavities, particularly among low-income residents who may not afford fluoride toothpaste or regular dental care.
Florida joins a growing list of communities turning away from fluoride. Utah recently passed a similar ban, effective May 7. Several counties in North Carolina and Wisconsin have already removed the additive from their water, and other states are considering the same.
The political environment has also chilled public advocacy. Public health staff report being discouraged from even discussing fluoride. With funding cuts to public health programs—most notably an $11 billion rollback under the Trump administration—many officials feel silenced and unsupported.
The long-term consequences could mirror Calgary, Canada, where tooth decay soared after fluoride was removed from water in 2011. It was reinstated a decade later.
Critics of the Florida bill warn it disregards evidence-based health practices for political optics. As Dr. Johnny Johnson, president of the American Fluoridation Society, put it: “This is a total disregard for our residents’ health.”
Related topics:
- Healthier Living, Not Just Fewer Pills, At The Heart Of U.S. Drug Cost Debate
- Martinelli Recalls Over 170,000 Apple Juice Bottles Due to Possible
- Smartphone App Shows Promise In Boosting Mental Health, Study Finds
