Pinellas County officials in Florida voted in a split decision to stop the addition of fluoride of water, affecting roughly 700,000 people.

In a 4-3 vote, Pinellas County became the largest county in the state to stop the fluoridation of water. According to officials, the move will save Pinellas County more than $200,000.

However, not everyone believes this change is a good thing. Putting fluoride in water has been a standard practice across many U.S. states for a good portion of modern history because of the health benefits it offers.

From USA TODAY:

Cities across the USA have been adding fluoride to their water since the 1940s as a way to prevent tooth decay and promote oral health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When the count was last taken in 2008, more than 195 million residents, or 72% of the U.S. population then, had access to optimally fluoridated water, according to the CDC.

The CDC named adding fluoride to public water one of the "Ten Great Public Health Achievements" of the 20th century.

Critics say fluoride can harm the enamel on the teeth of young children. More than 200 communities have stopped adding fluoride to water supplies in the past 10 years, according to a count by the Fluoride Action Network. During the same period, however, more than 300 communities began adding fluoride, says Edmond Hewlett, a professor at UCLA's school of dentistry and an American Dental Association spokesman.

Fluoride "reduces the risk of getting cavities. It's highly available to everyone who drinks that water," Hewlett says. "It benefits everyone."

The new drinking water plan will be put in place later this fall.