Florida surgeon general says fluoride shouldn't be added to drinking water: 'Public health malpractice'

Florida Surgeon General opposes fluoride in drinking water

FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports on Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announcing new guidelines that advise all cities and counties statewide to stop adding fluoride to drinking water.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced new guidelines on Friday, advising that all cities and counties statewide stop adding fluoride to drinking water.

Dr. Ladapo spoke at a news conference in Winter Haven, which made headlines last week after the city announced that fluoride will no longer be added to its water supply by the end of the year.

Dr. Ladapo news conference on fluoride in water

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo spoke in Winter Haven on Friday, saying all communities statewide should stop adding fluoride to drinking water.

"It is public health malpractice with the information that we have now to continue adding fluoride to water," Dr. Ladapo said, mentioning studies that point out the possibility of excessive fluoride exposure causing lower IQ levels and mental health issues among children.

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The debate over whether fluoride poses a health hazard when ingested goes beyond the brain, with critics arguing it could also cause dental and bone diseases. Supporters of fluoridation, though, consider it one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.

Dr. Ladapo's stance on the issue is in line with that of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has said he would recommend removing fluoride from drinking water nationwide.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now studying the issue more, as well, although it could take up to three years to find out the results.

Fluoride: What is it and why is it added to our drinking water?

"In September, a recent federal judge in San Franciso made a ruling against the EPA that stated that fluoride in drinking water at the current recommended level of 0.7 milligrams per liter poses a unreasonable risk of hazard to child IQ because there's not enough of a margin of safety between the hazard level and the exposure level added to community drinking water," said Dr. Ashley Malan, an assistant professor with the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Florida.

The history of fluoride in drinking water dates back generations, with researchers saying it is the primary source of fluoride for Americans and is a tool to help reduce tooth decay.

Officials lowered their recommendation for drinking water fluoride levels in 2015 to address a tooth condition called fluorosis, that can cause splotches on teeth and was becoming more common in U.S. kids.

There are other sources of fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. It also occurs naturally in many foods, like potatoes, spinach, grapes and most seafood. Black tea and white wine also contain fluoride.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says parents should not use fluoride toothpaste for children under 2 unless recommended by a dentist, use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for children 2 through 6, and avoid fluoride mouthwash.

A new tool will become available for Floridians to look up their addresses to see whether their communities add fluoride to their water.

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