Tavares Republican state senator Keith Truenow filed a bill that would ban fluoride in public water systems across the state.
The bill, which looks to address a number of agricultural issues, will also prohibit local governments across the state from adding fluoride to public water systems.
Fluoride has been added to public water since the mid-2oth century and has support from groups like the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control.
“Patients need to be able to make their own decisions, and we support what it is and work within what patients believe.” said Dr. Troy Gessner, owner of Springs Family Dentistry.
Like many other dentists, Gessner says that fluoride is helpful for preventing cavities and strengthening enamel.
“There’s a lot of information that supports the use of fluoride to decrease cavity risk, and there’s multiple avenues, but the best that we found is the topical applications,” he said.
But the practice has come under scrutiny from the Florida Surgeon General and other advocates who have expressed concern with the widespread use of flouride.
“I think that everybody has a right to informed consent and the government doesn’t have the right to medicate the population,” said Jessica Tillmann, a Longwood mother of four and head of the Seminole County chapter of the political advocacy group Moms for Liberty. She said she is not speaking on behalf of the group, but others in the national group have pushed back against fluoridated water in the past.
“I have four small kids. I have a four-year-old and a 16-year-old and two in between, so I think that it’s very important that parents have the right to say you can’t medicate my kids,” she said.
In a statement, Truenow was supportive of the idea that there is a clear mandate from Floridians against governments using fluoride in their drinking water.
“Prohibiting fluoride in public water systems ensures that individuals and families have the final say over their health,” Truenow said.
His bill will be considered alongside a slate of other state law changes during this upcoming session.
The Longwood City Commission voted unanimously to remove fluoride from its public drinking water at a meeting Monday night.
Original article online at: https://www.wesh.com/article/state-senator-files-bill-ban-fluoride-statewide/63821672