Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on Friday vetoed a resolution passed by county commissioners to ban fluoridation of the county’s public water supply. JUST IN: State’s Most Populated County Votes To Remove Fluoride From Public Drinking Water "Today I announced my decision to veto legislation that would end water fluoridation in Miami-Dade, following the guidance of dentists & medical experts. Our community's health is my top priority, and the experts affirm fluoride as a safe, effective way to protect dental health," Levine Cava said. Today I announced my decision to veto legislation that would end water fluoridation in Miami-Dade, following the guidance of dentists & medical experts. Our community's health is my top priority, and the experts affirm fluoride as a safe, effective way to protect dental health. pic.twitter.com/kUKVK6dgOn — Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) April 11, 2025 From the Miami Herald: Citing recommendations from doctors, dentists and national medical groups, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said fluoridated water is needed to protect residents from dental conditions that can come from too little fluoride use. “The science is very clear,” Levine Cava said at a Friday morning press conference. “No major study has shown harm at the levels of fluoride being used in Miami-Dade. ... Ending fluoridation could have real and lasting harm, especially for children and families who cannot afford regular dental care.” While a mainstream position for decades, that view has come under fire from the top health officials in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., under Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo spoke before commissioners twice in support of the Miami-Dade legislation, which orders the county’s Water and Sewer Department to stop adding fluoride to tap water within 30 days. The veto pits Levine Cava, a Democrat, against both the DeSantis administration and the bipartisan coalition of county commissioners who voted for the legislation on April 1. "Dear friends in Miami-Dade County: I hear @MayorDaniella plans to veto legislation that passed 8-2 to end water fluoridation. I’ll never understand how anyone feels entitled to add drugs to the water that other people drink. Give her office a call or visit and just say NO!" Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said. "Say no to forced medication!" Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added. Say no to forced medication! https://t.co/7askbed6tB — Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 11, 2025 WPLG Local 10 reports: Fluoride has been added to the county’s water since 1958 to help prevent tooth decay. Proponents of the resolution to remove it have cited studies claiming the additive poses health risks. But local health leaders and national medical groups, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maintain that fluoride in low levels is safe and effective in reducing dental problems. Levine Cava said she based her veto on input from residents and consultations with health professionals. She pointed to other cities that experienced an increase in cavities and other dental issues after fluoride was removed. She also criticized the commission for what she described as a “rushed” decision-making process. Miami-Dade Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, who supported the measure, said the mayor’s veto puts residents at risk. The debate in Miami-Dade comes as similar discussions unfold at the state level. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo has advocated for the removal of fluoride from the state’s water systems, and bills have been introduced in the Legislature that would end fluoridation statewide.