Fluoride

Researchers looked at a group of students and checked how much fluoride they drank from birth through high school. They then compared this to how the students did on math, reading and vocabulary tests.

Support for Fluoride for Families comes in response to the state banning fluoridation in local water systems, Mayor Ken Welch said.

The Canadian city reversed its fluoridation decision after child cavities surged. Is Florida, facing dental shortages, repeating the same mistake?

Many children in Florida lack access to routine dental care. According to data from the Florida Department of Health, nearly 1 in 3 third-graders had cavities during the 2021–22 school year.

They include a ban on communities adding fluoride to drinking water and prohibiting elementary and middle school students from using cellphones in schools.

Access is especially tough for kids in rural areas or whose families don't have a lot of money. Some dentists say a new statewide ban on adding fluoride to drinking water affects these communities the most.

Suncoast Searchlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Local governments will be no longer be allowed to put fluoride in tap water starting July 1. The provision part of a wide-ranging “Florida Farm Bill,” which includes a number of provisions geared toward helping farmers.

Florida's regular legislative session was scheduled to finish on May 2. But lawmakers extended it to finish the budget and address certain proposals. Your Florida talked with people across the state about how they think the first 60 days went.

In announcing his plan for the legislation, Gov. Ron DeSantis described the addition of fluoride to public water as "forced medication" and "taking away a choice."

Florida lawmakers voted to extend the regular session to June 6 in order to complete the budget and related items. But they will take at least a week off before returning to Tallahassee.

The bill, heading to the governor after House passage, doesn't specifically reference fluoride, but it will require the mineral and some other health additives be removed from public drinking water.