TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over the concerns of dentists and public health advocates who say the mineral is a safe, effective way to protect people of all ages from developing cavities.
Florida lawmakers gave final approval to the bill Tuesday after Utah became to pass a ban last month. The Republican-led states are following a push led by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is setting the gears of government in motion .
The Florida measure now goes to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose administration has advocated against the fluoridation of community water systems, arguing high levels could to children鈥檚 intellectual development.
Fluoride strengthens teeth by , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water is considered among the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
鈥淎s dentists, we see the direct consequences fluoride removal has on our patients and it鈥檚 a real tragedy when policymakers鈥� decisions hurt vulnerable kids and adults in the long term,鈥� Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association, said in a statement earlier this month. 鈥淏lindly calling for a ban on fluoridated water hurts people, costs money, and will ultimately harm our economy.鈥�
While Florida's bill doesn't specifically reference fluoride, it will require the mineral and some other additives be removed from water sources across the state, said bill sponsor Republican state Rep. Kaylee Tuck.
鈥淎nything that relates to water quality, removing contaminants, things like that, we're not touching that," Tuck said. "It's anything that has to do with health. So fluoride, vitamins, whatever else it is.鈥�
Some local officials in Florida have already voted to remove the mineral from their community water systems, ahead of state lawmakers' push to ban fluoride.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Tuesday she is 鈥渄eeply disappointed鈥� by the passage of the bill, adding that it disregards 鈥渢he overwhelming consensus of dentists, doctors and medical experts and will end a practice that has been in place for decades to protect our health.鈥�
Levine Cava said that ending fluoridation, which is a safe and cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay, will have 鈥渓ong-lasting health consequences, especially for our most vulnerable families.鈥�
The mayor said the decision should be left to local communities.
About one-third of community water systems, serving more than 60% of the U.S. population, fluoridated their water, according to a 2022 analysis by the CDC.
___ Associated Press writer Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida contributed to this report. Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Kate Payne, The Associated Press
