In light of Ocala’s plan to remove language from city code that adds fluoride to its water supply, the president of the American Fluoridation Society asked the city to reconsider its position, promising that the additive would likely return in the future.
Dr. Johnny Johnson, a pediatric dentist, made the comments to the Ocala City Council during its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 3.
“I want to thank you all. Out of all the water fluoridation plants in the state, about 25% of them don’t do their job appropriately in adding the proper amount of fluoride. You all have always, 61 years, always done it. Your water plant has done a fantastic job preventing more cavities than all the dentists in this area could ever do,” said Johnson. He also credited the practice with preventing “lung infections, heart attacks,” and other health issues that call can begin with an abscessed tooth.
The doctor then took aim at a proposed ordinance that would repeal a section of Ocala’s city code regarding fluoridation.
The ordinance, which was introduced during Tuesday’s meeting, comes in response to a new “Florida Farm Bill,” which includes provisions banning medical additives to public water systems.
“The issue is that no one in the state…nobody is changing their ordinance that’s in place,” said Johnson. The doctor suggested that he had spoken with different cities and counties who were not removing their fluoride provisions and, instead, were allowing the additive to simply “run out” of their respective water supplies.
The new law defines “water quality additive” as any chemical, additive, or substance that is used in a public water system for the purpose of meeting or surpassing primary or secondary drinking water standards, preventing/reducing/removing contaminants, or improving water quality.
The city is likely to repeal the measure to comply with the new law, which goes into effect on July 1, 2025.
Johnson emphasized that he believed fluoride would return to the city’s water supply in the future, citing historical precedents elsewhere.
“I promise you, everywhere this has happened in the US, and in Canada, and the country of Israel, fluoridation has returned because of the horrific illnesses that occur…and huge amounts of decay. We’re all affected by it,” said Johnson.
Israel removed fluoride from public water supplies in 2014. In 2024, a study by the Israel Journal of Health (IJH) showed a “statistically significant increase” in the average number of dental health treatments needed by residents in the years after fluoridation was removed from the water supply.
“The results of the study emphasize the advantages of water fluoridation and are further proof of the need to restore community water fluoridation in Israel,” reads a statement from the IJH’s study.
Johnson concluded his remarks by suggesting that, if the city moves forward with the ordinance, it would effectively be saying it doesn’t “believe in water fluoridation.”
“Which is not the case. You all have been doing it for 61 years,” said Johnson.
The city’s code of ordinances has had a requirement that fluoride be added to its municipal drinking water since 1961. The last time the requirement was amended was during a city council meeting in June 2019.
The ordinance to repeal the city’s fluoridation practice will have a second and final reading on Tuesday, June 17. During that meeting, the Ocala City Council will issue a final vote on the matter.
What are your thoughts about fluoride in Ocala’s water supply? Share them in a comment below or, if you have more to say, write a letter to the editor.
Original article online at: https://www.ocala-news.com/2025/06/06/doctor-asks-ocala-officials-to-keep-fluoride-provision-promises-its-return-in-future/#google_vignette