Florida is on the brink of a monumental decision, set to become the second state to ban fluoride from public water systems.
See the tweet below!
This move unfolds amid heated debates between cost-saving proponents and dental health advocates.
With Governor DeSantis poised to sign the bill, a nationwide ripple could follow, challenging long-standing public health practices.
The controversial bill, known as SB 700, recently passed in the Republican-controlled Florida legislature.
It, however, avoids directly naming “fluoride,” focusing instead on prohibiting certain additives in the water supply.
Florida follows Utah, which implemented a similar ban, further propelling the anti-fluoridation movement under the watchful influence of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Governor DeSantis’s administration supports the bill, citing concerns about fluoride’s potential to harm children’s intellectual development.
Many local officials have already begun to remove fluoride preemptively, a trend reflecting growing skepticism about mandatory water fluoridation.
Supporters argue the ban could lead to budget savings and assert that fluoride does little to enhance water quality.
Yet, opposition voices, including major health organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, strongly advocate for fluoride’s dental benefits.
The legislation has faced backlash for neglecting the dental health needs of lower-income residents unable to afford private dental care.
“No studies have shown that fluoridation at low levels is unsafe for our communities, including babies and pregnant women — in fact, it is vitally important for the health of developing teeth in infants and children,” stated Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, expressing her disappointment over the bill’s passage.
The American Dental Association warns that eliminating fluoride might harm vulnerable groups and damage the economy.
“As dentists, we see the direct consequences fluoride removal has on our patients and it’s a real tragedy when policymakers’ decisions hurt vulnerable kids and adults in the long term. Blindly calling for a ban on fluoridated water hurts people, costs money, and will ultimately harm our economy,” said Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association.
Florida Farm bill passes! Fluoride banned in Florida! When @GovRonDeSantis signs Florida will be second state to ban fluoride in public water systems! pic.twitter.com/HDrbaxbnzE
— Make Miami Fluoride Free (@radioactivestox) April 29, 2025
While the legislation awaits the governor’s signature, some argue that decisions about fluoride should remain within local communities’ jurisdiction.
As of 2022, approximately one-third of U.S. community water systems employed fluoridation to benefit over 60% of the population.
With this bill, Florida inches closer to a significant policy shift, reinforcing states’ rights in public health decisions while igniting debates over the best path for community health.
