Florida is now the second state to prohibit fluoride

📰 Florida Says No to Water Fluoridation — Here’s Why That Matters

On May 15th, Governor DeSantis announced support for SB700, banning local governments from adding fluoride to public drinking water. The law took effect July 1st, making Florida the second state—after Utah—to prohibit fluoridation.

Why is this significant? Because fluoride remains one of the most controversial topics in dentistry.

The National Research Council (NRC) has documented health risks from fluoride exposure since 2006. While the U.S. is one of the few countries still adding fluoride to public water, we also rank top 3 globally in cavities and gum disease (Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation). Clearly, cavities aren’t caused by a fluoride deficiency. They’re a multifactorial issue involving:

• Mouth breathing

• Poor nutrition (especially ultra-processed, nutrient-deficient foods)

• Gut health

• Oral microbiome balance

So why did we start fluoridating water?
Fluoridation began in the U.S. in the 1940s, long before the modern rise in other fluoride sources—dental products, pesticides, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, non-stick cookware, and more. Today, exposure comes from nearly every part of our environment.

Certain groups—infants, children, pregnant women, and those with kidney, thyroid, or neurological conditions—are particularly vulnerable. A recently released National Toxicology Program (NTP) review (delayed since 2022) confirmed that prenatal and early-life fluoride exposure can reduce IQ.

Worldwide perspective:

• In Western Europe, only 3% of people drink fluoridated water.

• In the U.S., over 66% do.

• The Public Health Service lowered the recommended concentration in 2015 to 0.7 mg/L due to rising dental fluorosis rates—but the EPA has yet to lower the legal contaminant limit, despite NRC’s 2006 recommendation.

With mounting evidence of overexposure and health risks, many experts believe it’s time to reduce or eliminate avoidable fluoride sources—including community water supplies.

Do you want to know more about Fluoride? This website is a great resource: Fluoride Facts: Sources, Exposure and Health Effects - IAOMT

Congratulations, Florida. Let’s see which states follow next.

True wellness starts in your mouth.
Dr. Norma Cortez
Your Biological & Airway Dentist