As fluoridation bans sweep smaller cities across Central Florida, Seminole County, north of Orlando, is poised Tuesday to consider removing the cavity-fighting chemical from its drinking water — the largest public water provider in the region to confront the issue.

In the last three months, a half-dozen local city commissions have voted to stop fluoridation — including Longwood and Lake Mary — reflecting a political shift fueled by state and federal GOP health leaders.

Meanwhile, some of the area’s largest water agencies, including the Orlando Utilities Commission and Orange County, are waiting on the sidelines as the Florida Legislature considers a statewide ban.

Amid the tumult, Seminole, which has fluoridated its water supply since 1988, has scheduled an informational discussion on the issue for Tuesday afternoon. In Osceola County, Toho Water Authority will hold community meetings about fluoridation across the county beginning Monday and continuing through April 17, seeking customer feedback.

“For me, there’s just a lot of unanswered questions,” Seminole commission Chair Jay Zembower said this week. “I’m not an expert or a scientist … Should the government be providing medication? Should the public have a choice? Hopefully, our presentation on Tuesday will give us an overview that is helpful.”

The decades-old debate over fluoridation mushroomed in November after state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo urged local governments to stop the practice — citing research that fluoride is toxic. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has claimed fluoride is linked to various health problems.

Since then more than a dozen Florida municipalities have voted to stop adding it to their public water supplies including Tavares, Leesburg, Palm Bay, Ormond Beach and Melbourne.

Water fluoridation, a common practice in the United States since 1945, is widely credited with slashing rates of tooth decay. The American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups say they “continue to endorse community water fluoridation” to prevent cavities.

Both Orange and OUC officials said they are taking a wait-and-see approach and have no planned public meetings on fluoridation.

But water fluoridation has become a hot topic across Florida.

In Miami-Dade County, commissioners voted 8-2 last week to stop adding fluoride to drinking water — after nearly 70 years. However, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has said she supports fluoridation and may veto the legislation, according to the Miami Herald.

In Clearwater, five hours into a contentious meeting Thursday the City Council voted 3-2 to keep fluoride in its water system.

And in the Legislature, an agricultural bill would prohibit “the use of any additive included primarily for health-related purposes” such as fluoride in public water systems.

Sen. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, who sponsored it, has said that residents can get fluoride in other ways, including toothpaste and mouthwashes, rather than from their faucets.

Dr. Johnny Johnson, president of the American Fluoridation Society and a pediatric dentist since the mid-1980s in Chiefland, said ending water fluoridation would be a mistake.

Adding a small amount of fluoride to public water supplies strengthens tooth enamel — especially for children in low-income communities who cannot afford regular dental care. He pointed out thousands of studies over 70 years have shown water fluoridation is safe for children and adults.

“Children do not get a choice,” Johnson said. “You are choosing that these kids are going to have more and more severe cavities because you don’t want fluoride. And we know that when you stop fluoridation, cavity rates skyrocket.”

Like every public utility, Seminole adds enough fluoride — a mineral naturally found in water — to bring levels up to 0.7 parts per million before it is delivered to 40,000 homes and businesses. That amount — about three drops in a 55 gallon barrel of water — has been recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service for decades. Seminole budgets just under $100,000 a year for fluoridation.

Seminole commissioners decided to schedule the fluoride discussion after residents voiced concerns at recent meetings.

“It’s the overall principle of giving people a choice,” said Justin Harvey, of Lake Mary, during the March 25 meeting. “I can say ‘no’ to anything my doctor prescribes (as medication). But this one comes out of the faucet.”

Commissioner Lee Constantine said the debate “is not new.” He remembered when he was an Altamonte Springs city commissioner in the 1980s and residents spoke out against fluoridation.

“I will face (Tuesday’s discussion) with an open mind,” Constantine said. “But you cannot deny — as much as people want to — there has been tremendous health benefits, especially when it comes to the reduction in tooth decay, from having minute amounts of fluoride in the water. Especially for those that have less access to dental care.”

Tuesday’s meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. at the county commission chambers in Sanford, at 1101 E. First St.

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