Former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez diagnosed with early-stage gum disease
Baseball legend Alex Rodriguez revealed Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with early-stage gum disease.
“I recently went to my dentist and didn’t think of any gum disease,” he continued CBS mornings. “And the dentist tells me the news, and then I find out that over 65 million Americans have this gum disease.”
Rodriguez emphasized the need to be regularly checked by a dentist.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research describes periodontal disease as “an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place.”[ads1]; Poor brushing and flossing are among the causes. Based on available data, the NIH said that 42.2 percent of Americans age 30 or older had “total periodontitis.”
Rodriguez spent 22 years in MLB spanning stints with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, he was a 14-time All-Star and three-time American League MVP.
The 47-year-old retired with 696 home runs, the fifth most in MLB history, and his 117.5 WAR is 16th all-time on Baseball Reference.
Despite a resume more than worthy of the Hall of Fame, his wait to be inducted continues with no end in sight. He was suspended for the entire 2014 season for his involvement in the wider Biogenesis scandal, and he reportedly tested positive for a banned substance in 2003.
Hall of Fame voters have responded accordingly. Rodriguez received just 35.7 percent of the vote in 2023, well below the 75 percent threshold required for a seat in Cooperstown, New York.
