WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The city of Winter Haven has been adding fluoride to its water since 1986, but citing a recent court case and data suggesting the chemical may also do harm, city leaders have narrowly voted to remove it.
Winter Haven Commissioner Brad Dantzler was the first to make a motion to remove fluoride from the city's drinking water.
Dantzler cited, in part, the anti-fluoride stance taken by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., likely to influence health policy in the Trump administration.
“And Mr. Kennedy has made it well known and has publicly said he wants fluoride out of the water of the entire country,” Dantzler said. “So, this issue, we might be a little in front of it, but this issue is coming.”
Debate over the idea centered on a September court ruling calling upon the EPA to strengthen its regulation of fluoride.
Some also spoke about a recent study suggesting fluoride could negatively impact children's brain development.
“I can get false teeth if needed, but I only have one brain,” said Hannah Bush, who spoke in support of removing the fluoride.
Commissioners also heard from several local dentists and dental professionals who said the study people were citing is flawed because the data was collected in foreign countries where fluoride levels are higher than in the U.S.
Many also questioned whether removing it from the local water supply would disproportionately harm those who can't afford dental care.
“There are so many people that can't access dental care, so I would hope that you would keep it in the water,” Joanna Smith, a dental hygienist, said.
“Water fluoridation levels the playing field for the haves and have-nots,” local dentist Paul Palo added.
Several people also urged city leaders to postpone any action on the issue to take time to delve deeper into the pros and cons, but commissioners decided to instead move forward, voting 3-2 to remove fluoride from the city's drinking water.
Commissioners directed staff to try to end the process of adding fluoride to the water by the beginning of the new year if not as soon as possible.
On Thursday, commissioners indicated they were not averse to revisiting their decision based on further court rulings or if new evidence is presented.
Winter Haven spends about $48,000 a year adding fluoride to its water.
There was some discussion about using some of those savings to offer fluoride toothpaste to low-income residents who would prefer to use fluoride to prevent tooth decay.