United States: The Florida state legislature passed a bill to prohibit fluoridation of public drinking water while public health professionals warn that dental health would suffer throughout the state.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will decide on this bill as the legislation progresses to his office.
More about the news
The previous records show DeSantis expressing his negative stance against fluoridation by labeling it as “forced medication.”
Public water fluoridation serves the purpose of preventing tooth decay, particularly focusing on children.
Florida would become the second state in the United States to prohibit water fluoridation following a bill signing.
The Washington Post documented that Utah will implement its water fluoridation ban on May 7.
This fluoride prohibition forms a part of the extensive farm bill, which prohibits governmental bodies in the state from adding substances to water supplies for either quality improvements or safety goals.
What more are the experts stating?
According to Jeff Ottley, president of the Florida Dental Association, “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,” US News reported.
Dental practicing professionals issued forceful opposition against this decision.
During a recent statement, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to stop the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from recommending fluoride use; however, HHS soon established a task force to investigate the matter, as US News reported.
🦷 Florida moves to ban fluoride in public drinking water, citing concerns over children's health. A bold step towards safeguarding our communities. #PublicHealth #FloridaPolitics https://t.co/DVmmf4mLQO
— State News (@StateBuzz) May 1, 2025
The recent statements from Kennedy came from an August 2024 government report showing that elevated fluoride consumption causes reduced intelligence in youngsters.
“The more you get, the stupider you are, and we need smart kids in this country,” he added.
The study stated that the results did not relate to the minimal fluoride amounts present in US drinking water systems.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scheduled studies that aim to reassess research about fluoride-related health threats.