Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over the concerns of dentists and public health advocates who say the mineral is a safe, effective way to protect people of all ages from developing cavities.

Florida is poised to outlaw fluoride in drinking water under a bill approved Tuesday by the state legislature, adding the state to a growing backlash against a long-standing public health measure. The legislation heads to Gov.

Florida is on the verge of banning fluoride in public drinking water systems, a move that has sparked concern among dentists and public health officials. The decision contradicts decades of scientific evidence supporting water fluoridation as a safe and effective method for preventing cavities.