Florida Pulls the Plug on Community Water Fluoridation
Florida is now the second state in the U.S. to ban water fluoridation, igniting a nationwide clash between government mandates and personal choice. While health authorities warn of dental consequences, state leaders say forced fluoridation violates informed consent.
Florida has become the second state to ban fluoride from its public water supply, joining Utah in a controversial move that defies decades of public health guidance. Signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senate Bill 700, part of the broader Florida Farm Bill, takes effect July 1 and bars water systems from using certain additives, effectively ending community water fluoridation across the state.
Though fluoride isn’t mentioned explicitly in the legislation, DeSantis and state officials made it clear that the intent is to stop what they describe as “forced medication.” Citing concerns about the potential effects of fluoride on pregnant women and children, DeSantis framed the measure as a win for medical autonomy. The Florida Surgeon General has actively campaigned against fluoridation, further pushing counties to eliminate the practice.
However, major health organizations including the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to endorse fluoride in drinking water, citing decades of research showing it reduces dental caries by about 25%. Critics of the Florida ban warn that eliminating fluoride from public water could increase oral health disparities, especially in underserved communities.
The move comes amid a growing anti-fluoridation movement nationwide, with similar bills circulating in at least five other states. In contrast, cities like Miami-Dade are fighting back; the local mayor vetoed a county-level fluoride ban just weeks before the state’s broader bill was signed. Click here to read more.
