Nicole Kowalski-Kleinsasser: The Woman Who Turned a Persistent Toothache into a Global Call for Early Cancer Detection

In 2017, a 25-year-old woman named Nicole Kowalski-Kleinsasser woke up night after night with a nagging toothache in her upper jaw. Doctors initially dismissed it as a sinus infection or simple muscle tension. Pain meds helped a little, but the discomfort returned stronger.

Six months later, a new X-ray revealed something alarming: part of her upper jaw bone was disappearing, and doctors found a mass near one of her molars. The first biopsy suggested the tumor was benign. Nicole underwent surgery anyway, losing four teeth and part of her palate. She was given a special prosthetic device called an obturator to help her eat, drink, and speak.

Then came the phone call that changed everything. Further examination showed that the tumor was actually salivary gland cancer — a rare and aggressive type of head and neck cancer. Radiation followed, but the cancer returned.

In December 2019, another surgery removed seven more teeth along with her hard and soft palate. She needed the obturator more than ever. For two years she was cancer-free. She finished her master’s degree in psychology, rebuilt her life, and fell in love with Eric Kleinsasser.

Then, in April 2022, Nicole noticed an indentation developing on the right side of her face. The cancer was back again — this time more aggressive. Surgery required removing part of the outside of her face and reconstructing it with tissue taken from her leg.

Nicole could have disappeared from public view. Instead, she shared her reality through her social media handle @nicolescrookedsmile on TikTok and Instagram. She spoke openly about pain, facial changes, treatment, and the emotional side of losing parts of the appearance she had known all her life. She connected with other patients so they would feel less alone.

On January 23, 2025, Nicole died at just 33 years old in UCLA Santa Monica. Her mother and husband later shared that she had fought with grace, humor, and unbreakable determination until the end.

Her story carries a powerful, simple message: most toothaches are caused by ordinary dental problems. But pain or other symptoms that persist, worsen, or cannot be explained deserve another look. Nicole kept asking for answers when her body was telling her something wasn’t right.

Sources

• National World obituary and feature article (June 2025)
• Daily Mail report (May 2025)
• The Sun and The Guardian coverage (2025)
• Nicole’s own social media updates and podcast appearances (@nicolescrookedsmile)
• Medical records and interviews shared with Mouth Cancer Foundation and SPOHNC (2018–2022)