Harmful or helpful? Both the benefits and the risks of fluoride injected into public drinking water systems was part of a legislative discussion.

Local governments in Florida and across the country recently have debated — and, in some cases, stopped — the longstanding practice of adding fluoride to water supplies. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has urged more communities to take that step, appearing personally at a hearing in Tavares late last year as the city halted the practice.

After weeks of hearing from residents on both sides of the issue, the DeForest Village Board has decided to move forward with discontinuing fluoride in residents’ drinking water.

Local governments in Florida ​and across the country recently have debated — and, in some cases, stopped — the longstanding practice of adding fluoride​ to water supplies.

With the backing of Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a Senate Republican on Thursday filed a wide-ranging bill that would bar public water systems from adding fluoride to water supplies. Sen.

The proposal would bar public water systems from adding fluoride to the water supply, but naturally occurring fluoride is already in JEA’s drinking water.