Fluoride in Florida Water: What Changed
In 2025, Florida became the second state, after Utah, to ban adding fluoride to public drinking water. The law took effect July 1, 2025. Miami-Dade tap water may still contain small amounts of fluoride that occur naturally, but the county no longer adds it for dental health.
What the Law Says
The change came through Senate Bill 700, signed May 15, 2025. It bars water systems from adding "additives," meaning substances added for reasons other than meeting water quality standards or treating the water for safety. Fluoride added for dental health falls under that ban.
Why It Became a Debate
The case for fluoride. For decades, health groups including the American Dental Association have supported community fluoridation as a low-cost way to prevent tooth decay. The federal recommended level was 0.7 mg/L.
The case against. A 2024 National Toxicology Program review found, with moderate confidence, that fluoride levels above 1.5 mg/L are linked to lower IQ in children. That's about twice the U.S. recommended level, and the review didn't reach a conclusion at 0.7 mg/L. A federal court also ordered the EPA in 2024 to take further regulatory action on fluoride.
Where it stands. The EPA announced a review of fluoride science in 2025.
What It Means for Your Home
Your tap water likely has less fluoride than before, but not necessarily zero, because fluoride occurs naturally in groundwater. Check the county's Water Quality Report for the current level.
If you relied on fluoridated water for your family's dental health, talk to your dentist about toothpaste, varnish or supplements.
Bottled water varies. Some brands contain fluoride and some don't, so check the label.
If You Want Fluoride Out
Most pitcher, refrigerator and whole-home carbon filters don't remove fluoride. Reverse osmosis is one of the few home methods that does. If you'd rather keep fluoride out of your drinking water entirely, including the natural amount, a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink is the practical option.
Which System Handles This
Drinking and cooking water: the Micromax 8500 reverse osmosis system, certified under NSF/ANSI 58, which includes fluoride reduction.
Whole-home systems like the Hydronex focus on chloramine and hardness and aren't designed to remove fluoride.