LYNDEN, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The City of Lynden will soon decide whether it will keep fluoride in its water supply.

The Lynden City Council voted on Monday, June 3 to move forward with a resolution to end its practice of adding fluoride to its water.

Lynden Mayor Scott Korthuis says it now heads to the council’s July 1 meeting for final consideration. The city has been adding fluoride to its water system since 1959 as the only city in Whatcom County to do so.

Almost all water contains a low level of the naturally occurring mineral, but some communities like Lynden add additional fluoride in an effort to reduce cavities.

The CDC named fluoridation of drinking water as one of the 10 great public health interventions of the 20th century and it is a practice that is endorsed by most dentists.

Proponents of fluoridation say it reduces tooth decay and is a cost-effective way to help those who don’t have regular access to dental care. Critics argue fluoride is a medical treatment being forced on residents by the city, when it should instead be a decision made by each individual household.