Fluoride has become the latest hot topic in public health, and the practice of adding fluoride to the municipal water supply has come under scrutiny.
Fluoricilicic acid, the inorganic compound that results in fluoride when added to water, has long been used to aid in the prevention of cavities and to strengthen tooth enamel. But last November, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo released guidance recommending against community water fluoridation, saying the neuropsychiatric risk associated with exposure would outweigh the benefits. He also said fluoride is widely available from other sources, further reducing the need for it to be in water.
In early March, the Lakeland City Commission voted to stop adding fluoride to the city’s water, a practice that was started in 1981.
Residents opposed to the practice cited concerns about choice and the possible link to neurological problems. Practice proponents, however, argued that adding fluoride to the water was important for children who might not otherwise have access to it.
Later in March, the Bartow City Commission voted to continue adding fluoride to city water. A Florida bill currently moving through the Legislature could overturn that decision if it passes.
Stay tuned for more as the Legislature weighs in.