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Since November when Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo called for ending the decades-long practice of fluoridating community water throughout the state, municipalities had taken up the matter themselves, deciding whether or not to continue adding fluoride to their own drinking water systems at 0.7 milligrams per liter of water — the amount recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service for cavity prevention. Then during the 2025 legislative session, Senate Bill 700 passed, which made the decision to eliminate added-fluoride in public water systems for every Florida city and town. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law on May 15.
Originally sponsored by State Sen. Keith Truenow, a Republican who represents parts of West Orange County, the law goes into effect July 1, making Florida the second state in the nation to enact such legislation after Utah.
The policy change conflicts with longstanding recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association and even the Department of Defense, which considers fluoridated water essential for military readiness.
VoxPopuli spoke with dentist Brenna Kever, DMD, president of the Florida Dental Association Foundation, about what the loss of fluoridated drinking water will mean for communities.
Our interview has been edited for length and clarity.
VoxPopuli: Communities in the U.S. have been adding fluoride to their public drinking water for decades. Remind us again why this was done.
Brenna Kever, DMD: Fluoride is found in water and in certain foods. It strengthens the enamel and helps prevent further breakdown of the tooth structure. It's historically been added to public water supplies to reach the level of fluoride proven safe and effective to reduce tooth decay. The CDC has acknowledged water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public health initiatives of the 20th century, and that was because of its reduction in the amount of tooth decay, emergency room visits, general public health and well-being.
VoxPopuli: As of July 1, no Florida cities or towns will be adding fluoride to their community water. What do you think the effect will be?
Dr. Kever: I expect we will see an increase in the amount of tooth decay. Increased tooth decay means more missed school, possible increased emergency room visits and an increase in dental-related healthcare costs.
Fluoride has been proven to reduce the number of decayed teeth across the board, and so kids [exposed to] fluoride have an average of one less decayed tooth in their mouths.
VoxPopuli: How can we protect our teeth and our children’s teeth now?
Dr. Kever: I would definitely recommend using a fluoridated toothpaste twice a day; making sure kids are brushing; following up on the brushing with their kids, and ensuring that they are getting regular dental checkups and education. That is an easy way to catch early issues before they become big problems. That being said, flossing and brushing at home is going to be their number one line of defense. And they can consult with their physician or dentist for systemic fluoride supplements.
Vox Populi: What about fluoride-containing foods, such as shrimp, grapes and oatmeal? Can they help, make up for removing fluoride from drinking water?
Dr. Kever: Only trace amounts of fluoride are naturally present in most foods, so food sources are generally not considered adequate to offset the loss of water fluoridation. Fluoride supplements would be the best way to obtain a consistent level of systemic fluoride.
VoxPopuli: Lawmakers are already trying to remove prescription fluoride supplements next. If that happens, what would that mean?
Dr. Kever: The federal Food and Drug Administration is supposedly considering prohibiting fluoride supplementation, and so the public would have less access to tools that could help fight against tooth decay. Then we would no longer have the correct titrated level of fluoride in our water [and] we would not have the ability to prescribe supplementation to kids who maybe were at high risk for decay. There's just basically fewer tools in our tool belt.
VoxPopuli: What worries you most about this new legislation?
Dr. Kever: I'm worried about kids who face barriers to care and lack oral health education, don't brush their teeth daily, don't see a dentist and now aren't going to have the protective effect of fluoride in their drinking water.
VoxPopuli: Do you think pediatricians, school nurses and nutritionists will need to change how and what they teach kids about dental health to prevent tooth decay?
Dr. Kever: I think that dental education is going to be critical regardless of this policy. The more education that our kids and the state of Florida can have on their dental health, the better. And there's going to have to be a multifaceted response to the removal of fluoride in the drinking water.
VoxPopuli: Do you believe that the decision to remove fluoride from community water is based on science, or was it a political decision?
Dr. Kever: I can't speak to any political aspects, but I can say that as a dentist, it's surprising to see political decisions being made that are in contrast with scientific literature. This decision is in complete opposition to the recommendations from the CDC and the ADA.
Vox Populi: Where can people get more information?
Dr. Kever: The Florida Dental Association has a website with answers to common questions regarding fluoride.
