OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Parents across Marion County may soon notice a change in their children’s dental routine — not in the bathroom, but at the kitchen sink. Starting July 1, local governments in Florida, including the City of Ocala, will be prohibited from adding fluoride to public water systems under a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The measure, approved by the state legislature last month and signed at a public event in Dade City on May 15, positions Florida as the second state in the nation to ban the mineral, following Utah’s similar move in March.

Supporters of the new law, including DeSantis, say the issue is about personal freedom.

“Yes, use fluoride for your teeth, that’s fine,” DeSantis said during the signing. “But forcing it in the water supply is basically forced medication on people. They don’t have a choice.”

Dentists and public health experts, however, have raised concerns that removing fluoride, long used to prevent cavities, could reverse decades of progress in dental health, particularly for children and low-income families.

According to Gregory Davis of the City of Ocala’s City Management Office, the City of Ocala Utilities removed fluoride from its water supply April 30, 2025.

The ban not only affects fluoride but also includes restrictions on other additives in public water systems. Families who want to continue using fluoride may need to turn to toothpaste, prescription supplements, or filtered water options.

For now, parents are advised to talk to their child’s dentist and stay informed through official city updates.

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