Shumita Basu

On Tuesday, Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that will prevent local municipalities from adding fluoride to their water starting July 1st.

Dentists and public health experts are sounding the alarm, saying that rolling back community fluoridation policies, which are widely considered one of the top public health success stories of the last century, could lead to a rise in avoidable dental health issues. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil, air, and in some areas, the water.

Dentists and public health experts are sounding the alarm, saying that rolling back community fluoridation policies, which are widely considered one of the top public health success stories of the last century, could lead to a rise in avoidable dental health issues. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil, air, and in some areas, the water.

Dentists and public health experts are sounding the alarm, saying that rolling back community fluoridation policies, which are widely considered one of the top public health success stories of the last century, could lead to a rise in avoidable dental health issues. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil, air, and in some areas, the water.

Too much of it can stain your teeth, but the right amount can play a vital role in preventing tooth decay. Dentists figured this out roughly 100 years ago. And starting in 1945, municipalities across the U.S. started to add very small amounts to the public drinking supply.

Too much of it can stain your teeth, but the right amount can play a vital role in preventing tooth decay. Dentists figured this out roughly 100 years ago. And starting in 1945, municipalities across the U.S. started to add very small amounts to the public drinking supply.

Too much of it can stain your teeth, but the right amount can play a vital role in preventing tooth decay. Dentists figured this out roughly 100 years ago. And starting in 1945, municipalities across the U.S. started to add very small amounts to the public drinking supply.

Fox reports the goal was to make sure everyone got some amount of protection from tooth decay, regardless of whether they had access to dental care. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, the very first city to fluoridate its water, researchers monitored almost 30,000 school-aged children over the course of 15 years, and the rate of tooth decay dropped by more than 60%.

Fox reports the goal was to make sure everyone got some amount of protection from tooth decay, regardless of whether they had access to dental care. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, the very first city to fluoridate its water, researchers monitored almost 30,000 school-aged children over the course of 15 years, and the rate of tooth decay dropped by more than 60%.

Fox reports the goal was to make sure everyone got some amount of protection from tooth decay, regardless of whether they had access to dental care. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, the very first city to fluoridate its water, researchers monitored almost 30,000 school-aged children over the course of 15 years, and the rate of tooth decay dropped by more than 60%.

In 2011, the city council in Calgary, Canada, voted to remove fluoride from its water. But a decade later, residents voted to bring it back. Calgary City Council member Giancarlo Carra spoke with NPR last year about this decision. He says they noticed when fluoride was removed, tooth decay was on the rise.

In 2011, the city council in Calgary, Canada, voted to remove fluoride from its water. But a decade later, residents voted to bring it back. Calgary City Council member Giancarlo Carra spoke with NPR last year about this decision. He says they noticed when fluoride was removed, tooth decay was on the rise.

In 2011, the city council in Calgary, Canada, voted to remove fluoride from its water. But a decade later, residents voted to bring it back. Calgary City Council member Giancarlo Carra spoke with NPR last year about this decision. He says they noticed when fluoride was removed, tooth decay was on the rise.

Some people who have been outspoken opponents of adding fluoride to water, like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have warned that it can be dangerous and lead to adverse health effects. And there's some truth to that if too much is consumed. Bruce Lamphere, a professor of health sciences who studies neurotoxins, told Vox about research in China.

Some people who have been outspoken opponents of adding fluoride to water, like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have warned that it can be dangerous and lead to adverse health effects. And there's some truth to that if too much is consumed. Bruce Lamphere, a professor of health sciences who studies neurotoxins, told Vox about research in China.

Some people who have been outspoken opponents of adding fluoride to water, like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have warned that it can be dangerous and lead to adverse health effects. And there's some truth to that if too much is consumed. Bruce Lamphere, a professor of health sciences who studies neurotoxins, told Vox about research in China.

It compared villages with high amounts of naturally occurring fluoride in their water to villages without high levels of fluoride.

It compared villages with high amounts of naturally occurring fluoride in their water to villages without high levels of fluoride.

It compared villages with high amounts of naturally occurring fluoride in their water to villages without high levels of fluoride.

But what's also worth noting, we are talking about high, high levels of fluoride exposure. Here in the United States, municipalities set fluoride limits, and most follow CDC guidance, which is much lower. No more than 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. That's around five times less than the Chinese villages from the study Lamphere cited.