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| After a recent routine visit with his dentist, former MLB player Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Rod) discovered that he’s one of the 47% of U.S. adults over 30 years old who live with gum disease. We scored the chance to chat with A-Rod about his oral health and how you can prevent and treat gum disease. |
| *This interview has been edited for length and clarity. |
| Q: |
What was it like finding out that you have gum disease? |
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| A: I was honestly surprised. I take good care of my teeth — brushing and flossing daily … I think there’s this notion that we think that if you chew tobacco, eat sunflower seeds, or [chew] gum, which are all things synonymous with baseball players, [that must be the cause but] that’s not true; it can happen to anybody.
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| Q: |
You recently teamed up with OraPharma and its Cover Your Bases campaign, which includes educational content about gum disease and encourages people to talk with their dentist about comprehensive treatment options. Can you talk about this partnership? |
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| A: I have it, so it’s very genuine … We wish we could always be talking about a campaign that focuses on you looking great and [having] shredded abs, but that’s not the case with me, and this is something that’s real.
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| I went to the dentist and just like any American out there — any size, any shape, any gender –– this can happen to any single one of us, and hopefully I can use my platform for the greater good. I’m [currently] using [it] to let all my followers, fans, viewers, and non-followers know that gum disease is something to consider, and sooner rather than later. |
| Q: |
How do you feel about receiving this diagnosis? And what do you want others to know about how to prevent and treat gum disease?
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| A: I’m happy that I detected it early. I wish I would have known even earlier [now that I know] it’s prevalent in my community, Latinos, and Black and brown [people]. Anything with the word “disease” on it you’re like, “Oh boy, this is scary.” The good news is it’s treatable, and your dentist will have a lot more information. |
| Read the full story on Healthline.com, and scroll down to the end of this email to rate this interview!
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