Florida Becomes Latest State to Ban Drinking Water Fluoridation

On Tuesday, May 6, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will ban the addition of fluoride in drinking water throughout the state beginning on July 1st. Governor DeSantis has previously called drinking water fluoridation “forced medication.”

Florida joins Utah as a state that saw its legislatures take interest in and ultimately ban drinking water fluoridation after prominent anti-fluoride advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. became the Secretary of Health and Human Services in January as part of the new Trump administration. Several more states, including Louisiana, Tennessee, North Dakota, and more, saw anti-fluoridation legislation during their state legislative sessions, as well. While many dental health professionals tout drinking water fluoridation as one of the greatest public health initiatives of the twentieth century, anti-fluoride advocates like Kennedy say that potential developmental risks caused by fluoride ingestion outweigh the dental benefits.