The Cairns Regional Council has voted to stop fluoridating its water supplies by early next month.

Mayor Bob Manning says it recognises involuntary 'mass medication' must not proceed without community consent.

The Queensland Government last year changed laws to give councils the option not to fluoridate local water supplies.

"It costs about $300,000 or $400,000 a year to fluoridate all the supply, so that won't occur but this is not an issue of cost and we're not talking about millions of dollars here," councillor Manning said.

"We should have the process completed, the taking out of the fluoridation, by about mid-February."

Ron Blake from the Australian Dental Association says fluoridating water prevents tooth decay but is not mass medication.

"That's stretching the term a bit," he said.

"It's not mass medication. Fluoride is a natural element and what we want to do is put it in the optimal level that will give maximum benefit and it is safe.

"The science is irrefutable."