Dental Hygienist Trades Plaque for Puff

After more than 30 years perfecting smiles as a dental hygienist, Krista Mellina, RDH, is now perfecting something far sweeter: marshmallows. Once known around Goffstown, New Hampshire, for her gentle chairside manner, Mellina has become a local sensation as the founder of Twisted Mallow Company, a handcrafted marshmallow business that has taken New Hampshire’s farmers markets and specialty shops by storm.

Her pivot from plaque to puff began as a lighthearted comment after a tough workweek, joking with a friend about starting a s’mores food truck. That joke turned serious when curiosity led her to make her first batch of marshmallows and bring them to the dental office. Soon, what started as a stress-relieving side project blossomed into a fast-growing business.

Mellina reflects, “One thing that I love most about dental hygiene is the connections and friendships you make with your patients. I really take the time to get to know my patients and their families. It’s the same with my company. Connecting with customers and wholesale accounts is one of the things that drives me to do what I’m doing. I love talking to people and hearing their stories and seeing them each week at the markets. And seeing their faces light up when they’ve tried try a sample brings me such joy!”

Twisted Mallow’s name honors both her creativity and her roots, “mallow” nods to marshmallows and her family name, while “twisted” hints at her inventive approach to flavors. Mellina’s lineup ranges from comforting classics such as vanilla and maple to daring creations including mango chili-lime, lemon lavender, and even boozy varieties such as mimosa and strawberry champagne. Ingredients are important to Mellina. All of her marshmallows are gluten- and genetically modified organism-free and contain no corn syrup or artificial ingredients.

Though she now spends just a few hours a week practicing dental hygiene, Mellina credits her dental background for giving her the discipline, precision, and people skills to run a one-woman business.

She’s embraced every challenge, from production and packaging to marketing and sales. She encourages other dental hygienists to see what opportunities their passions outside of the dental operatory may bring.

“Just start and keep pushing forward! It’s not easy, but the rewards are well worth the efforts. Remember with every obstacle there is a solution. And reach out to other entrepreneurs for advice. So many business owners love to share their knowledge and experience and it’s absolutely invaluable!” Mellina asserts.

As she balances her two worlds, Mellina proves that the skills gained in dental hygiene can translate into unexpected and delicious new ventures.