Here’s the deal, I hate anything that slows me down. I’m a busy mum of three and I don’t have a lot of time to stop and take care of unforeseen problems. So when my jaw started hurting one weekend and my gum got sore, I didn’t want to have to slow down to take care of it.

Luckily, my friend Zoe’s husband is a dentist at Pure NZ Dental – so I gave Zoe a call to schedule an appointment for the next day. I was completely surprised when she told me they could actually get me in that afternoon. I’m so used to fighting to get a last minute appointment that I probably seemed confused when I was offered a same-day spot!

My daughters, Lauren and Georgia, were at school so I swung by to pick them up and then grabbed my son Will so we could head off to Pure NZ Dental. The first thing I noticed was the warm welcome I received, I instantly felt like the staff was genuinely happy to see me AND my kids.

The television on the wall was playing Paw Patrol, Will’s favourite cartoon. And there were books and toys in the waiting area, which my kids were immediately drawn to.

Zoe’s husband, Dr Justin, attended to me and I was extremely relieved when he knew exactly what was going on with my teeth and gums right away. It turns out that I’ve been grinding my teeth in my sleep and I had no idea!

Dr Justin explained that sometimes when people sleep they clench their jaw and rub their teeth together, this puts stress on the jaw, the gums, and of course, the teeth and causes soreness and pain. People can grind their teeth for any number of reasons, but thankfully the solution is pretty simple – you need a retainer, also known as a night guard or a splint, to wear when sleeping.

After my teeth were meticulously cleaned and polished, Dr Justin fitted me for my retainer and I went to see how my kids were doing. Historically, there’s at least some crying when I take my kids to the dentist, but I was completely surprised to find that their teeth had been checked and cleaned without any problems, or any tears!

Dr Ali had attended my kids and I initially thought that Ali stood for Alison, I was surprised again to find out that Dr Ali is a man who’s just really great with kids!

Just to let you in on HOW good with kids he is, my daughter Lauren actually has a bit of phobia of dentists. Usually, she won’t even open her mouth. I used to take Lauren to a child specialist and let me tell you, it cost me an absolute bomb. Having a dentist she responds to is a game changer for us.

As far as my sore gum and jaw pain goes, the pain and swelling were completely GONE by the next day. I’m not kidding nor exaggerating. I definitely didn’t expect the problem to improve that quickly. Anyone who has had a toothache of any kind would know what a big relief that can be.

Needless to say, the right dental care makes a world of difference. On top of the skilled professionals at Pure NZ Dental, the team makes sure you’re comfortable and every detail is considered. There are warm blankets for patients while in the dental chair, toys for the kids and laughing gas if you happen to need it or have anxiety about going to the dentist.

Again, I can’t overemphasize how kid-friendly and comfortable this clinic is! If you have a child who’s nervous about the dentist, you need to take them to Pure NZ Dental.

To make an appointment for yourself or your child (or both!) call Pure NZ Dental at +656463 0257, or make an appointment via WhatsApp at +6596798770. If you have any questions for the team, visit their website or email them at info@purenzdental.com