Several states and cities have taken measures to end water fluoridation as national debate about the practice continues.
Discussions about water fluoridation's safety were heightened last year after the National Toxicology Program concluded in a report that higher levels of fluoride exposure are associated with lower IQ in children.
Here are more than 30 updates on water fluoridation that Becker's has covered so far this year:
January 2025
1. The Palm Bay (Fla.) City Council unanimously voted to keep fluoride out of the city's water supply.
2. The Grand Forks (N.D.) City Council rejected a proposal to remove fluoride from the city's water supply.
3. The American Dental Association reaffirmed its stance on the benefits of water fluoridation, citing a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics.
4. The ADA's "Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry" poll from the fourth quarter of 2024 asked more than 900 dentists in private practice about their thoughts on water fluoridation. The poll found that more than 90% of dentists support community water fluoridation as a public health measure.
5. A bill in the Kentucky House of Representatives was introduced that would amend state laws to make water fluoridation programs optional.
6. A coalition of 13 groups pushed the Environmental Protection Agency to appeal a court ruling that forces the organization to further regulate water fluoridation.
7. The Melbourne (Fla.) City Council voted to remove fluoride from its water supply Jan. 15.
8. Six dentists spoke with Becker's to discuss the national debate on water fluoridation, and the impact ending water fluoridation could have on patients.
9. A poll conducted on behalf of the Kansas Policy Institute found that 41% of residents believe that water companies should reduce fluoride levels and 31% want fluoride completely removed without waiting for recommendations from the EPA.
10. A Tennessee bill to prohibit water fluoridation passed its first consideration in the state Senate.
11. The Environmental Protection Agency appealed the court order directing the agency to further regulate fluoride in public water systems.
12. The Niceville (Fla.) City County unanimously voted to end the use of fluoride in its water supply.
13. Fort Pierce, Ormond Beach and Immokalee, Fla., opted to discontinue water fluoridation in their communities.
14. Officials in Cocoa City and Titusville, Fla., began considering ending water fluoridation in their communities.
15. City officials in Longview, Camas and Battle Ground, Wash., began considering ending water fluoridation in their communities.
16. Legislation was introduced in the Utah House of Representatives to prohibit water fluoridation in the state.
February 2025
1. The Eldridge (Iowa) Utility Board said it is waiting to see who will oversee the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services before moving forward on a decision to end water fluoridation.
2. Commissioners in Lee County, Fla., voted Feb. 4 to stop adding fluoride to its drinking water.
3. Commissioners in Hillsborough County, Fla., failed to pass a measure that would have ended water fluoridation in the county.
4. The Delray Beach (Fla.) Commission voted 3-2 to keep fluoride in the city's water supply.
5. South Dakota legislators advanced a bill that would make water fluoridation optional in municipalities.
6. Voters in Somerset, Mass., decided against a petition that would have removed fluoride from the town’s water supply.
7. The Hannibal (Mo.) City Council voted to send a recommendation to the Hannibal Board of Public Works to remove fluoride from the city's drinking water.
8. Officials in DeForest, Wis., voted to remove fluoride from the city's drinking water.
9. Florida Sen. Keith Truenow introduced Senate Bill 700, which would prohibit all public water systems in the state from adding fluoride to their water supplies.
10. A bill to repeal an Arkansas law that requires the fluoridation of drinking water failed to pass a state senate committee.
11. The Wisconsin Rapids City Council rejected a proposal to ban water fluoridation.
12. Officials in Longwood, Fla., voted unanimously to remove fluoride from the city’s water supply.
13. Officials in Plover, Wis., began discussing whether the city should continue adding fluoride to its water supply.
14. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called on the state governor and legislators to institute a statewide ban on fluoride.
15. A New Hampshire House committee voted down a measure that would have ended water fluoridation in the state.
16. The Kentucky House Health Services Committee advanced a bill that would allow local water systems to decide whether to add fluoride.