BARTOW, Fla., (WFLA) – Another city in Polk County has moved one step closer to removing fluoride from its water.

On March 17, Bartow City Commissioners are expected to vote on whether or not to continue adding fluoride to the water.

It was a packed public meeting Tuesday night as speaker after speaker took to the podium to have their stance on fluoride heard.

Fluoride has been added to drinking water for years to try and prevent tooth decay.

State Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who attended the meeting said it is time to stop putting fluoride in the water, and warned of the health risks.

“The bottom line is you now have multiple studies, the vast majority of studies that show, very clearly, an association between higher fluoride levels and neurotoxic harms, neuropsychiatric harms,” Ladapo said.

The Surgeon General referred to some studies that said fluoride can lead to things like lower IQ and behavioral issues in children.

Ladapo said the most sensitive populations are children and pregnant mothers.

“I really didn’t have a choice in my pregnancy to decide on whether I was drinking fluoride and ingesting it or not. He doesn’t have a choice either, whether I drink it, and it goes through my breast milk to him,” said a mother who spoke during public comment.

On the other side, those working in the dental field said they see the benefit of fluoride daily, and it outweighs any potential harm.

“I’ve been practicing for 35 years in Polk County; I help people who have the benefit of fluoride and people who do not have the benefit of fluoride. Perhaps my experience will be of benefit to you, I can tell you where fluoride is available, and fluoride is not magic, it doesn’t make all the cavities go away, but it helps,” said Dr. John Paul, who has a dental office in Lakeland.

He said fluoride can help save you multiple trips to the dentist.

“Where fluoride is available, I see cavities come in one in two per kid, one in two per grandma. Where fluoride is not available, I see cavities coming in one and two per tooth,” Paul said.

City Commissioners thanked everyone for speaking at the meeting and said they needed to go over everything they heard before voting.

Bartow is currently one of five cities in Polk County that adds fluoride to their drinking water.