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Getting candid about health. Alex Rodriguez<\/strong><\/a> revealed that he has recently been diagnosed with early-stage gum disease.<\/p>\n Despite flashing a shiny, white smile on the Wednesday, May 31, episode<\/a> of CBS Mornings<\/em>, the former MLB star, 47, noted that \u201clooks can be deceiving.\u201d According to the CDC<\/a>, almost half of American adults over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease, and it becomes more common in people over the age of 65.<\/p>\n \u201cI just recently went to see my dentist and not thinking anything about any gum disease,\u201d A-Rod, who was on the show spread awareness about the medical condition, continued. \u201cAnd the dentist tells me the news, and then I come to find out over 65 million Americans have this gum disease. \u2026 So, it\u2019s important for all the viewers watching, all Americans, all folks, go out there and take care of your teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n The diagnosis hits home for the former New York Yankees player as the late baseball star Tony Gwynn \u2014 whom he called \u201cone of the great, great icons of baseball\u201d \u2014 died at the age of 54 from mouth cancer<\/a> in 2014. Like many baseball players, Gwynn was a user of chewing tobacco, which may have led to his cancer struggles.<\/p>\n A-Rod noted that he\u2019s \u201cnot sure whether\u201d chewing tobacco could be linked to gum disease, claiming that he\u2019s never used it himself. \u201cI did a lot of sunflower seeds,\u201d he added. \u201cBut anyways, viewers at home, it\u2019s always better to be safe. Go see your local dentist.\u201d<\/p>\n The former athlete\u2019s appearance comes not long after he reunited with ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis<\/strong><\/a> for their eldest daughter Natasha\u2019s high school graduation<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m crushed. I\u2019m so excited, but then heartbroken. I mean, it goes by so fast,\u201d he told CBS Mornings<\/em> of his 18-year-old daughter\u2019s academic achievement. He and Scurtis, 50 \u2014 who were married from 2002 to 2008 \u2014 also share daughter Ella<\/a>, 15.<\/p>\n He went on to reveal that he penned a heartfelt letter to his firstborn in honor of her graduation. \u201cI couldn\u2019t finish the letter because I started breaking down,\u201d Rodriguez shared. \u201cIt was at my house. We had a bunch of my family over. And I basically said, \u2018You know, I\u2019m supposed to be your role model, and here you are at 18 and you\u2019re my role model.\u2019 And [I\u2019m] just so proud of her, and she\u2019s going to do theater.\u201d<\/p>\n Last month, Natasha announced via Instagram<\/a> that she will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall. \u201cI still can\u2019t believe this is a real opportunity I\u2019ve been given, and it\u2019s an absolute dream come true!!!,\u201d she captioned pics of herself posing with balloons in the school\u2019s colors, blue and yellow.<\/p>\n Rodriguez \u2014 who has been dating JacFit founder Jaclyn Cordeiro<\/strong> <\/a>since October 2022 \u2014 congratulated her in the post\u2019s comments section, writing, \u201cSo proud of you Tashi \u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n