Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on Fluoride in Water Debate

Veto of Fluoride Removal Vote

• 🗳️ Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava vetoed a commission vote to remove fluoride from the county's water supply.
• 👩‍⚕️ The decision aims to uphold the guidance of dentists and medical experts who overwhelmingly support fluoridation.

Expert Consensus on Fluoride

• 💡 The Mayor convened a roundtable with medical and dental experts to emphasize the benefits of fluoride for teeth development, even before teeth emerge.
• ✅ Experts are united in their understanding that fluoride is critically important and beneficial, even necessary, for dental health.
• 🧪 The Mayor highlighted that fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral and is already present in water supplies at varying levels.

Addressing Skepticism and Misinformation

• 🗣️ The Mayor noted that some colleagues may not have fully heard or considered the testimony of medical experts.
• 📊 A public opinion poll indicated that residents trust dentists more than politicians on this issue, showing general agreement on fluoride's benefits.
• 🔬 Studies cited against fluoride by skeptics were questioned by consulted experts as not being scientifically based or using much higher levels than what is added to water.

Statewide Legislation Concerns

• 🏛️ A potential statewide ban on water additives, as part of Senate Bill 700, could render the local debate moot.
• ⚠️ The Mayor hopes the state legislature will also consult medical and dental experts and believes a statewide ban would be injurious.
• 🌍 Other places that have removed fluoride from water have since put it back in, recognizing the detriment of its absence.