A bill introduced by state Rep. Michele Reneau, R-Hixson, would prohibit water utilities like Tennessee American Water, which supplies Chattanooga with water, from adding fluoride as they do now to comply with current state law.
If the measure passes, Tennessee would join Florida and Utah in banning the additive.
Many people prefer not to have fluoride in their water for a variety of reasons, Reneau said in a January interview about the issue.
“It’s possible, for one, people are getting too much fluoride,” Reneau said in the phone interview. “If you’re using it topically, which is considered the best form of fluoride, through your toothpaste, mouthwash or whatever other topical applications there are. But, to get it when you’re ingesting it, you can’t control that.”