Tavares City Council votes to remove fluoride from water supply

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Published  December 18, 2024 10:37pm EST
FOX 35 Orlando
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The Brief

    • The Tavares City Council voted 4-1 to remove fluoride from the city’s water supply, influenced by public complaints. 
    • Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who attended the vote, is opposed to fluoride, citing health risks that counter advice from the American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics. 
    • These organizations emphasize decades of research showing fluoridation reduces tooth decay by at least 25% across all demographics.

TAVARES, Fla. - The Tavares City Council voted 4-1 to remove fluoride from the city’s water supply after weeks of discussion and public input.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo attended the meeting, voicing opposition to fluoride. 

Ladapo has pointed to a potential "neuropsychiatric risk" from fluoride exposure as part of a warning posted on the health agency’s website. The guidance highlighted a list of "safety concerns," including adverse effects on children such as cognitive impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Other concerns include "increased neurobehavioral problems" in children whose mothers ingested fluoride during pregnancy.

Ladapo's position is in direct conflict with advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association.

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Community water fluoridation has been used for seven decades as a method of preventing tooth decay. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a joint statement in September expressing their continued support for community water fluoridation efforts.

"Oral health should not be a luxury; it’s essential. Optimally fluoridated water is accessible to communities regardless of socioeconomic status, education or other social variables," American Dental Association President Linda Edgar said in the statement. "Even in an era with widespread availability of fluoride from various sources, studies show that community water fluoridation prevents at least 25% of tooth decay in children and adults throughout their life span. The scientific weight of sound evidence around the benefit of community water fluoridation is clear and compelling."

Council members cited public complaints as a significant factor in their decision.

The Source: Some information in this article is provided by The News Service of Florida.

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