What’s New
The city of Tavares has voted to remove fluoride from water, after Donald Trump‘s pick for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke out against keeping the chemical in public water.
Newsweek has contacted Florida’s Department of Health, via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
Multiple places in the U.S. are voting on whether to keep fluoride in water, after RFK Jr. revealed a preference to remove it, prior to Trump’s election win. This came after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was ordered to address how fluoride in water could risk children’s intellectual development. But opponents to the removal fear a resulting severe drop in dental health in the population.
What To Know
Tavares city leaders voted 4-1 to remove fluoride, the only opposition coming from council member Sandy Gamble.
Debate on the topic was tabled two weeks ago, but city officials said they wanted more time to review studies.
Florida’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo made an appearance at the council meeting, calling fluoridation a “public health malpractice.”
Edward Chen, a U.S. District judge in San Francisco, California, said in September that although it is unclear if the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing lower IQ levels in kids, there is increasing research that it could be an unreasonable risk.
Chen ruled that the EPA must take steps to lower that potential risk, but did not clarify what the process would look like.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Ladapo said: “I don’t understand why anyone who can read and therefore can read the studies is still defending it.”
Mayor Walter B. Price, Sr. said: “If you happen to get more of this toothpaste in your mouth than you need to brush your teeth, that you should seek medical help—or call a poison control center immediately.” So why are we putting that in our water?”
Vice Mayor Lori Pfister said: “Both sides win because you can still get your fluoride and you don’t have to have the fluoride if you don’t want it.”
At public comment earlier this month, Dr. Johnny Johnson Jr., a Doctor of Dental Medicine, spoke out against removing fluoride.
He said: “Not having to change any daily behaviors that you have and you’re receiving at least 25 percent cavity reductions. You don’t see the silent majority here today. You don’t see those that are impoverished here today. Those are the people that are going to be affected the most.”
The American Fluoridation Society says on its website, “There is exhaustive professional and scientific consensus by both researchers and doctors that fluoridating community water is extremely important in preventing cavities and is completely safe.”
Original article online at: https://www.newsweek.com/florida-fluoride-tavares-2003618