Donald Driver named ambassador for statewide health initiative by Network Health

GREEN BAY — Network Health launched a statewide health initiative, From Teeth to Toes, at the Packers Hall of Fame on Thursday, Aug. 20, with Donald Driver as an ambassador, signing on to take the pledge to build healthy dental habits.

The From Teeth to Toes campaign aims to combat the stigma around dental hygiene as a secondary component of general medical health.

According to Network Health, across the state of Wisconsin, 60% of children have had a cavity by the third grade while lower-income students disproportionately face untreated dental decay at nearly double the rate of their peers.

Network Health President and CEO Coreen Dicus-Johnson spoke about the stigma surrounding dental hygiene as it is often overlooked as a less relevant aspect of general health.

“At Network Health, we are committed to improving the health and wellness of the people in the communities we serve,” said Dicus-Johnson.

“We’re talking about the whole person, but we’ve created a system that treats everything separately. Disconnected providers, disconnected insurance, different programs, different conversations, but our bodies don’t work that way (…) We want to connect the mouth to whole health care.”

Overlooking oral health concerns can ultimately be linked to other general health issues, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, yet it continues to be viewed as a non-routine form of healthcare, most often in lower-income or more rural areas of Wisconsin.

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, “More than 34 million hours of school are lost each year due to unplanned dental care for preventable oral disease — time that affects a child’s ability to learn and thrive. Finally, almost $46 billion is lost in productivity in the United States each year because of untreated oral disease.”

Former Packers Super Bowl Champion Donald Driver will be involved in several aspects of the campaigns promotional components to implore students and families to prioritize their oral health.

“In Green Bay, we always talked about the whole player — conditioning, nutrition, recovery, all of it working together,” said Driver. “Your health works the same way. Taking care of your smile is part of taking care of yourself. I’m proud to stand with Network Health and ask every Wisconsinite to make that same commitment,” said Driver.

Those present at the launch experienced a sneak peek of a promotional commercial featuring Driver.
At the conclusion of the event, those involved with the initiative signed the Healthy Habits pledge and encouraged local residents to do the same.

The Healthy Habits Pledge is, “a simple public commitment to treat oral health as part of overall health by 1) brushing for two minutes every time you brush, 2) floss at least once per day, 3) visit your dental provider and doctor as recommended.”

Those looking for more information about the Healthy Habits Pledge can visit the Network Health social media pages or website.