Florida Town Votes to End Water Fluoridation Following Health Concerns

Tavares City Council's decision reflects a growing national debate over the safety and necessity of fluoridated drinking water.

The Tavares City Council voted 4-1 to immediately remove fluoride from the city's water supply after hearing from Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and other critics of fluoridation.
Dr. Ladapo, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, argued that fluoridation poses risks to children's neurological development and questioned its overall public health benefits.
Supporters of fluoridation, including dental health professionals, warned the decision could exacerbate dental health disparities, particularly for low-income residents.
The vote comes as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pledged to push for an end to water fluoridation at state and local levels.
Tavares joins several other Florida municipalities that have recently opted to discontinue fluoridation, reigniting debates over its role in public health policies nationwide.