Tooth-Brushing Can Cause Epileptic Seizures

An Australian team of neurobiologists have discovered that the rhythmic action of tooth-brushing can trigger seizures in epilepsy sufferers. This unusual observation will allow a better understanding of this condition and constitutes a progress towards more effective treatments.

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Brushing teeth can trigger epileptic seizures in people with damage to a small, specific spot in the brain, Australian researchers have discovered.

Source: The Australian

I would have to think this is either a severe or rare cause of epilepsy... It makes sense if you think about it but it seems rather strange. It must not happen very often or else it'd be in the news more or more commonly featured in medical journals.

It is indeed a very rare trigger of seizures, but shouldn't be overlooked. Any rhythmic activity is liable to provoke an epileptic fit in some of the sufferers, and I wouldn't be surprised if sex could induce a fit too! The more we know about these triggers, the closer we'll get to a better understanding and treatment of this condition.

Do they think the action can induce grand mal or petite mal seizures? It would be more likely that it would be petite mal seixures which are actually a misfiring of the small muscles instead the whole body- the action may mimic what a petite mal seizure looks like anyway.

From what the article states, it looks more that the tooth-brushing motion triggers mild seizures. This is anyway a rare event and only contributes to the scientists' understanding of the disease. The more we know about it, the closer we'll get to a proper cure.