Alex Rodriguez has been diagnosed with early-stage gum disease.

During an appearance on CBS News on Wednesday, the retired baseball player opened up about a recent trip to the dentist.

After being complimented on his smile, Alex responded, “Looks can be deceiving.”

He explained that during an unrelated dentist appointment, he had been diagnosed with common gum disease.

“I just recently went to see my dentist and not thinking anything about any gum disease,” the sports star shared. “And the dentist tells me the news, and then I come to find out over 65 million Americans have this gum disease.”

After the diagnosis, Alex partnered with OraPharma to encourage people to take care of their teeth. He emphasised on the show that dental issues were more “prevalent in our Black and Brown communities, especially my Latino community”.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 46 per cent of American adults aged 30 or older show signs of gum disease. The CDC also reports gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.

– Cover Media