Florida joins Utah to ban fluoride from public water systems
Florida is the second state to take steps to end fluorination of public water systems. Utah became the first in March.
Scripps News
Following a push by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and another Republican-led state, Florida banned the long-standing practice of adding fluoride to public water systems this week.
On May 15th, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the 2025 Florida Farm Bill.
Fluoride, a naturally occurring element, is found in water, soil, air and some foods, and can help prevent tooth decay and cavities.
Utah became the first state to ban fluoride earlier this year, on a scale praised by Kennedy, a secretary to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and others who questioned his safety, opposed dentists and healthcare providers.
The new law was approved by Utah Senators in late February and then signed the law on March 29 by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox.
Why does the state prohibit fluoride in public water? How many states have removed minerals from drinking water? Which other states can follow in their footsteps? Here’s what you need to know.
Which states have banned fluoride?
As of May 16, two states had banned fluoride from public drinking water.
- Yuta: Republican state lawmakers Stephanie Grisius and Kirk A. Karimore sponsored the bill signed by Cox and came into effect on May 7th.
- Florida: The bill introduced by Republican Sen. Keith Truneau was signed by DeSantis on May 15th and is expected to come into effect on July 1st.
Which states have anti-fluoride bills on the table?
Several other states have introduced legislation to curb fluoride use in water. They are:
Lawmakers from other states, including North Dakota, Arkansas, Tennessee, Montana and New Hampshire, saw anti-fluoride legislative efforts, but the bill either failed or missed the deadline for that year.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is an inorganic dental health-boosting mineral that helps prevent tooth decay and helps strengthen teeth.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) touts fluorination as one of the 10 biggest public health outcomes of the 20th century. The CDC claims that fluorinated water is safe and cost-effective.
Minerals have been added to public water supplies and dental supplies, including toothpaste, for decades in the United States, as a precaution for tooth decay.
Why do some states prohibit fluoride in the water?
Kennedy, appointed as the country’s top health advisor by President Donald Trump despite not receiving medical training under his belt, has led a new charge against adding fluoride to water.
In November, Kennedy announced in X that the Trump administration would “advise all US water systems to remove fluoride from farmland.”
Earlier this week, federal health officials said they were beginning to remove ingestible fluoride supplements for children from the market.
How much fluoride is safe in public water?
US Public Health Services recommends that public water systems contain fluoride levels of 0.7 milligrams per liter. The World Health Organization’s recommended limit for fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 milligrams per liter.
Federal public health agencies recommend adjusting public water systems to less than half of fluoride levels.
contribution: Mary Walras Holdridge Ken Alltucker and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter at USA Today. Contact her at nalund @usatoday.com and follow her at x @nataliealund.
