San Diego, the largest holdout, will fluoridate its water

Flouridation is coming to San Diego, the largest city in the U.S. that was still holding out against the cavity-fighting measure.

The city council voted unanimously June 10 to accept $3.9 million in funding from First 5 California, a nonprofit children's promotion group, to begin fluoridation of its municipal water supply, according to news reports.

State law requires cities with more than 10,000 residents to fluoridate their water supply, if they have the funds. But San Diego had obtained an exemption by arguing it couldn't afford the cost, according to KPBS radio station.

San Diego is the home base for some national opponents of fluoridation, and the city had rejected previous initiatives to begin adding fluoride to its water.

First 5 California distributes money collected from a tax on cigarettes that is designated to improve children's health. When this commission offered San Diego funds to initiate and continue fluoridation for two years, the city council lost its exemption from state law.