TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has issued guidance against community water fluoridation, citing potential neuropsychiatric risks associated with fluoride exposure.
Ladapo, who also serves as the state’s Department of Health Secretary, highlighted concerns about fluoride’s impact on children and pregnant women in a statement released Friday.
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According to the guidance, systemic fluoride exposure could lead to reduced IQ, cognitive impairments, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and increased neurobehavioral problems in children whose mothers consumed fluoride during pregnancy.
Additional risks mentioned include potential thyroid suppression, skeletal fluorosis, and disruptions to sleep cycles due to fluoride accumulation in the pineal gland.
“The previously considered benefit of community water fluoridation does not outweigh the current known risks, especially for special populations like pregnant women and children,” Ladapo said, calling for further research on fluoride’s safety and efficacy.
Community water fluoridation has been used for over 70 years to prevent tooth decay and remains supported by major health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association (ADA). The ADA emphasizes that fluoridation reduces tooth decay by at least 25% across all age groups and remains a critical public health measure.
Ladapo’s guidance comes amid broader debates over water fluoridation, as many European countries and some municipalities in the U.S. move towards discontinuing the practice. Florida’s Winter Haven city commissioners recently voted to remove fluoride from their water system by the end of this year.
While fluoride is widely available through toothpaste, mouthwashes, and dental treatments, experts argue that water fluoridation provides equitable access to oral health benefits.
ADA President Linda Edgar reaffirmed the organization’s support in September, stating, “Oral health should not be a luxury; it’s essential.”
More than 70% of Floridians on community water systems currently receive fluoridated water, according to self-reported state data.
News Service of Florida reported that Ladapo’s guidance mirrors recommendations made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who Preisdent-elect Donald Trump nominated to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
