COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Supporters of a proposal to ban fluoride in Ohio’s public drinking water urged lawmakers last week to end the decades-long practice, arguing residents should have the freedom to decide whether to consume the mineral.
House Bill 182, introduced by Rep. Levi Dean (R-Xenia), would prohibit public water systems from adding fluoride to drinking water. Backers of the measure argue fluoridation raises health concerns and removes individual choice, while many public health officials have long supported the practice as a way to prevent tooth decay.
The House Natural Resources Committee heard testimony from several supporters of the bill on March 4, marking the legislation’s second hearing since it was introduced in March 2025. Dean told lawmakers during the bill’s first hearing last April that the proposal is intended to give Ohioans more control over what they ingest. Watch a previous NBC4 report on H.B. 182 in the video player above.
“My constituents have made it clear that they want the option to decide whether or not to consume fluoride,” Dean said during the April 2025 hearing. “States such as Hawaii, Utah, Kentucky, and Georgia have either proposed or adopted policies reflecting a more cautious approach to water fluoridation. It is time we re-evaluate this practice.”
During the March 4 hearing, several supporters expanded on those concerns. Griffin Cole, a dentist who practiced in Texas for nearly three decades, told lawmakers he believes ingesting fluoride provides little benefit for dental health. Cole said the key factors behind healthy teeth are diet and consistent home care, such as brushing and flossing.
“Numerous studies over many years, including some published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, have confirmed that there is no benefit to teeth from ingesting fluoride,” Cole said. “Any anti-cavity effect comes from topical application, not from drinking it.”
Stuart Cooper, executive director of the Fluoride Action Network, also urged lawmakers to end fluoridation, arguing it shouldn’t be added to public water, given that the federal Food and Drug Administration categorizes the mineral as a drug.
“All drugs can have harmful health effects,” Cooper said. “Putting it in the drinking water takes away your right to informed consent. Using the public water supply to administer any drug is unethical. All citizens should be free to hydrate without having to regulate their total fluoride intake. Fluoride ingestion should be a choice, not a mandate.”
Matthew Messina, a dentist and associate professor at Ohio State University College of Dentistry, previously told lawmakers that controlled levels of fluoride help strengthen tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.
“Fluoride helps because it makes tooth enamel harder or stronger, more resistant to the acid, which reduces the risk of decay,” he said, arguing that fluoride in drinking water helps “build strong teeth for a lifetime.”
Messina said fluoride in public water has been “hailed as one of the best and one of the most successful public health efforts in the 20th century,” and rolling it back would mean “everybody would have to step up their game,” when it comes to oral hygiene.
Public health officials often note that fluoridated water reaches large populations, including people who may not regularly brush their teeth or receive routine dental care.
H.B. 182 may receive additional House Natural Resources Committee hearings open for public testimony.
Original article online at: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/politics/supporters-urge-ohio-lawmakers-to-ban-fluoride-in-public-drinking-water/