I've been a dedicated coffee drinker since I was in high school, and my commitment to caffeine has only intensified since I had kids and began working from home (and from coffee shops). There was awhile there not long ago where I could drink an entire pot of coffee and then later on a few Diet Pepsis. So you can imagine that at times my teeth turn a lovely warm shade of tan, sort of the way your skin looks after a nice vacation.

Every few years or so then I try to undo the damage and whiten my teeth (I have my college reunion this weekend which seemed like a good enough reason.) For me that means paying about $75-$100 for a GoSMILE system.

I've tried a few different whitening systems over the years. I had trays made, but the gel made my already sensitive teach unbearably touchy, like, the only thing that didn't hurt to eat or drink was warm water. I tried Crest WhiteStrips but I hate the taste and sensation of them sliding around on my teeth--they feel like condoms for your gums.

I picked up GoSMILE at some point just because I liked the packaging, but I've been a dedicated user now for several years. It's effective, first and foremost--it doesn't get your teeth Ross Gellar white, but you definitely notice a difference. It's really fast and easy to use--you just crack these little tubes and rub the stuff on your teeth (in fact, the system reminds me a little bit of cracking glow sticks, so they're even kind of fun.) It doesn't taste too much like poison and it doesn't make my teeth hurt, either.

All that, to me, plus the fact that I only do GoSMILE every few years, makes it worth the price. I realize right this second as I type I should have done before and after photos for you but just imagine fairly brown teeth, and now, imagine kind of white teeth. And there you have it. Cheese!

(Hey, speaking of unsolicited endorsements, I wrote another one at Mom.me about the Baby Merlin sleep suit. Also speaking of things I've written lately, I got to speak with Divya Narendra [if his name is familiar to you, he was played by Max Minghella in The Social Network] about the genesis of his company SumZero, for Kellogg Magazine.)