Lakeland is just one of several other cities, such as Winter Haven, to vote to remove fluoride from its water. Bartow, Manatee County and other local governments across the region are also considering it.

After Monday's vote, the only communities in Polk County that still fluoridate their drinking water are Bartow, Haines City and Auburndale, according to previous Ledger reporting. Polk County has never added fluoride. Lake Alfred stopped the practice in a unanimous city commission vote on Dec. 2.

The City of Lakeland has joined the growing list of local governments in Florida voting to remove fluoride from drinking water after commissioners signed off on the move Monday.

The City of Lakeland Commission voted unanimously to stop adding fluoride to the city's water, effective Monday.

Longwood commissioners unanimously agreed Monday to end a decades-long practice of adding fluoride to the city’s drinking water supply — becoming the latest in Central Florida to do so. Before the vote, Mayor Matthew McMillan said it comes down to a simple question: “What’s the role of our utility? It’s to supply water.”

City officials said the fluoridation was turned off minutes after the unanimous decision. DOGE cost-cutter-in-chief Elon Musk likened the U.S. retirement system to a pyramid scheme during a podcast with Joe Rogan.