Miami-Dade Commission Votes To Override Mayor’s Veto To End Water Fluoridation

MIAMI, Florida — Miami-Dade commissioners voted 8-4 on Tuesday to override Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s veto of a resolution that would halt the addition of fluoride to the county’s drinking water.

The four commissioners who voted against the override were Eileen Higgins, Raquel Regalado, and Micky Steinberg, the Miami Herald reported.

The County Commission had voted 8-2 on April 1 to end fluoridation, citing health concerns raised by critics, including Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. Commissioners Eileen Higgins and Raquel Regalado voted “no” on the measure.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 11 Roberto J. Gonzalez proposed the resolution.

In her veto message, Mayor Levine Cava emphasized the safety and importance of water fluoridation, a practice in place since 1958.

Flanked by dentists and medical experts, she argued that fluoride is essential for preventing cavities, particularly among low-income families who may lack access to dental care.

On April 29, 2025, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that will prohibit the addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems, positioning Florida to become the second state in the U.S. to enact such a ban, following Utah’s lead earlier this year.

New Studies Suggest Harmful Effects Of Adding Fluoride To Drinking Water

Fluoridation began in the United States in 1945, with Grand Rapids, Michigan, becoming the first city to add fluoride to its drinking water to reduce tooth decay. The practice gained widespread adoption after studies showed significant declines in cavities, particularly among children.

By the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. Public Health Service and organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA) endorsed water fluoridation as a safe, cost-effective way to improve dental health, especially in communities with limited access to dental care.

Today, about 75% of Americans on public water systems receive fluoridated water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which lists it among the top public health achievements of the 20th century.

However, recent studies, such as a 2019 JAMA Pediatrics paper and a 2024 National Toxicology Program report, have suggested a possible link between higher fluoride exposure—often above U.S. recommended levels—and lower IQ in children.

Other concerns include dental fluorosis (tooth enamel discoloration from excess fluoride), skeletal fluorosis (a rare bone condition tied to very high intake), and claims of neurotoxicity or endocrine disruption. Opponents also argue that fluoride’s benefits are overstated in an era where toothpaste and other dental products provide topical fluoride, rendering water fluoridation unnecessary or outdated.