BARTOW, FL – Bartow city commissioners voted 3-2 on Monday to continue adding fluoride to the community’s drinking water, following intense debate.
State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo recently cautioned against fluoridation, citing potential health risks like lower IQ and behavioral issues in children. The American Dental Association strongly disagreed, labeling Ladapo’s stance “dangerous” and “misinformed,” and stressing fluoride’s role in preventing tooth decay—crucial in Florida, where 65 of 67 counties face a severe shortage of dental providers, exacerbating access to care.
Critics like Harvard researchers and the 2025 NTP warn fluoridated water may lower IQ in children based on studies from Canada, China, India, and Mexico.
This is a developing situation. We’ve reached out to the mayor for comment and will update the story.
