In 2026′s Tokyo marathon, runner and teacher Annie Tran said the secret to her speedy finish was a disposable toothbrush.
“Every runner knows that mile 20 is where we have to dig deep and find what little energy we have left. After brushing my teeth, I felt revived and refreshed,” she said on Instagram.
That’s one way of getting past “the wall”. But whether you’re running a marathon or not, runner Katy Laser pointed out an issue dentists say could be common among distance joggers – and might even be mitigated by a post-run brush.
How might running affect your teeth?
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Despite not eating much sugar or drinking many fizzy beverages, Katy said in a viral TikTok that her dentist called her out on some issues, which she later attributed to gel packs.
“In addition to [gels] being little packs of sugar… that are very sticky… your mouth gets drier when you run,” she explained. “It is just sticking to your teeth in a ‘desert mouth’… running gels are essentially the perfect storm of cavities”.
“The amount and frequency of carbohydrate that an endurance athlete ingests during competition and training can wreak havoc in your mouth, increasing risk of enamel erosion, dental cavities, and inflammatory periodontal disease,” she shared on Instagram.
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She added that most sports drinks are acidic. And while saliva helps to wash away both sugar and acids, as Katy explained, this is diminished during a run. This may be exacerbated by heavy breathing.
One paper found “high levels of poor oral health” among London 2012 Olympians; 76% had gingivitis, and 55% had caries (tooth decay).
How can I look after my teeth if I run long distances?
Young advised drinking water after taking running gels. Pond Square Dental added that staying hydrated is the “first and most important step” when you’re on a long run.
Reducing the number of sugary snacks and gels you consume may also help.
And if those don’t work for very long runs, Dr Douglas Elliott at Elliott Orthodontics said “brushing your teeth before and after workouts” is worth a try too.
While many of the entertainment world’s biggest names spent their Monday evenings at the star-studded Met Gala, other prominent celebrities have spoken out against the event due to the involvement of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
This year’s Met Ball was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams, alongside regular organiser Anna Wintour, while Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez were named as its “honorary chairs”, as well as sponsoring the event, which had the themed dress code “Fashion Is Art”.
One organised protest saw bottles of fake urine being stashed around New York’s Met Museum, in a show of solidarity with Amazon employees days before the Met Ball.
Meanwhile, a video message from a 72-year-old Amazon warehouse worker was also projected onto Bezos’ penthouse in the lead-up to the event.
“When we struggle from paycheck to paycheck, from week to week, it really angers me,” she said in her message. “If it weren’t for every associate in every Amazon facility, he wouldn’t have all those zeros behind his name. Shame on you, Jeff Bezos.
“The people that need to be celebrated at the Met Gala are the workers – people like me. We deserve that celebration. We deserve so much more than we’re getting.”
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Marvel star Mark Ruffalo – who has not attended the Met Ball since 2012 – also shared this video post on his own Instagram page.
It was also liked by Olivia Rodrigo, another notable absence from this year’s event, who has attended the Met Gala three times previously, and was in New York days earlier to host Saturday Night Live.
Taraji P Henson also commented on a video slamming the event by comedian Meredith Lynch, in which she stated: “If you are a celebrity and you attend the Met Gala and you wear the ‘ICE out’ pin, please note that I will be dragging you in perpetuity.”
“I am so confused by some [people] that are going,” Taraji responded. “I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!”
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Taraji has attended the Met Ball four times in the past, most recently in 2025.
Meanwhile, Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter spent the evening at a Labour Is Art protest against Bezos’ involvement in the 2026 Met Gala, which featured catwalk appearances from Amazon and Starbucks employees.
Accusing Bezos of trying to make the Met Ball “all about him”, Lisa lamented: “How did an event that’s supposed to celebrate creativity, artistry and fabulousness in all genders end up revolving around this Temu Lex Luthor, who profits off of pushing working people to their very brink?”
In the end, Jeff Bezos did not appear on this year’s Met Gala red carpet.
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However, his wife Lauren Sánchez did walk the red carpet, appearing in a dress inspired by John Singer Sargeant’s painting, the Portrait Of Madame X, in a nod to the event’s “Fashion Is Art” theme.
Jesse Derry was stretchered off the pitch at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty Images)
Chelsea youngster Jesse Derry has posted his first update after a sickening head injury on his Premier League debut for the Blues.
The 18-year-old started in the clash with Nottingham Forest on Monday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.
The teenager had turned out twice in the FA Cup for Chelsea, but was thrown into the starting XI for his first taste of Premier League football.
It was a bad outing for Chelsea, who were beaten 3-1 by Forest, but Derry was one of the bright spots in their poor performance.
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However, his top flight debut ended before half-time after a nasty clash of heads with Zach Abbot as they both challenged for a bouncing ball.
Derry got there first, so won a penalty when he was clattered by Abbott, but was felled and received lengthy treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off.
There was great concern for the teenager, but he appears to be positive and is looking forward to a swift return to the pitch.
Derry suffered the clash of heads with Nottingham Forest’s Zach Abbott (Picture: Getty Images)
‘A dream come true to start at Stamford Bridge for my Premier League debut,’ Derry wrote on X.
‘I’d like to thank all the Chelsea medical staff, everyone at St Mary’s Hospital, my teammates, and all the fans for their great support.
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‘I can’t wait to be back playing in front of everyone very soon.’
A dream come true to start at Stamford Bridge for my Premier League debut.I’d like to thank all the Chelsea medical staff, everyone at St Mary’s Hospital, my teammates, and all the fans for their great support.I can’t wait to be back playing in front of everyone very soon. pic.twitter.com/sYcL9EsWRP
The club posted a statement on the youngster’s status, writing: ‘Jesse is conscious, talking and undergoing precautionary checks. We wish him a speedy recovery and thank the medical staff for their swift response.’
Chelsea’s interim manager Calum McFarlane told the BBC: ‘All signs positive at the moment so we’re hopeful he’s in a good condition and from what we’ve heard it’s positive.
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‘Gutted for Jesse, I thought he did well in the game. He gave us a threat – a massive moment for him that has ended sadly.’
Derry looked good before his Premier League debut came to a painful end (Picture: Getty Images)
19-year-old Abbott was making just his second league appearance for Nottingham Forest, and replied to Derry’s update by writing: ‘Best wishes, mate.’
The defeat for Chelsea leaves them ninth in the Premier League table and in real danger of missing out on European football next season.
‘Massively disappointing – we know we are a lot better than what we showed today,’ said McFarlane. ‘I don’t think we ever got to our level so very disappointing.’
“John Swinney has repeatedly warned that he will push for another referendum if he wins a majority, yet Labour and the Liberal Democrats are complacent on the issue, while the fake Unionists of Reform are fielding pro-independence candidates and providing the Nationalists with a roadmap to breaking up the UK.
Sienna Blake’s crimes caught up with her (Picture: Lime Pictures)
Hollyoaks spoilers follow for Tuesday’s (May 5) episode that is now available to view on Channel 4 streaming. The episode in question will air on E4 on at 7pm.
Sienna Blake’s (Anna Passey) sins finally caught up with her as her horrified loved ones made the devastating decision to report her to the police after a series of grisly discoveries.
The much-loved show favourite, as viewers know, is no angel, having always skirted the line between light and darkness due to a difficult upbringing at the hands of patriarch Patrick (Jeremy Sheffield).
But despite her past misgivings, she has spent the better part of a decade attempting to make amends for her dastardly deeds, becoming a well-liked and valued resident of the village, who has won the heart of just about everyone she crossed paths with in recent years.
Following the latter incident, Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin), who was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis just months ago, was appalled to discover that not only did Sienna claim Clare’s life but that she lied about it, claiming Cleo did it.
Sienna has been tampering with Cleo’s medication and using her mental health against her for weeks, in the hopes of making her believe that she needs to rely on Sienna for everything, but Cleo worked out what she was up to and confronted her this week.
After a showdown, Sienna admitted to her crimes, telling Cleo that she desperately wants to go back to the way things were. Cleo, however, made it clear that such a thing wasn’t an option – at least not without her taking accountability for her actions.
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Sienna tried to make Cleo see that they could have a future together (Picture: Lime Pictures)
Working out that Sienna also killed Ethan, Cleo urged her to go to the police, but Sienna managed to convince her to come to the allotment first so that she could complete the floral arrangements for Ste and Rex’s upcoming wedding.
In dramatic scenes, Sienna claimed that Cleo doesn’t love her any more and a grim showdown ensued – with Cleo falling to the floor and hitting her head.
Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas), meanwhile, uncovered the truth about Clare’s ‘demise’, informing Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) that Sienna was the one to blame – not Sophie or Cleo.
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Sienna was taken away by the police (Picture: Lime Pictures)
When Dodger arrived at the allotment and called for back up, Sienna fled the scene, hoping Warren would help her get out of dodge.
Instead, enraged Warren drove her right back to the village, where she was taken away by the police in front of everyone. Warren told her that he’d see her ‘in hell’ but Sienna made it quite clear that she’ll see him before that, hinting that she’s got unfinished business that needs dealing with.
The question is: have we actually seen the last of the almighty Sienna Blake? Or will she be staging a comeback in the future?
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Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show a brawl between Armagh and Down supporters
14:20, 05 May 2026Updated 14:25, 05 May 2026
Down v Armagh fans involved in heated brawl
Tensions boiled over between Down and Armagh fans ahead of the Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-final in Clones on Sunday, with unsavoury scenes marring the build-up to the match.
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Video footage circulating on social media appears to capture a group of supporters from both counties engaged in a violent altercation near a bus in what seems to be a drop-off point for match-goers.
An Garda Síochána confirmed to the Irish Mirror that they “had received no reports of any incidents,” relating to the Ulster semi-final encounter.
On the pitch, Armagh dominated their fierce rivals, cruising into the Ulster final with a commanding 3-33 to 0-14 victory, reports the Irish Mirror. Kieran McGeeney’s side will now face Monaghan as they bid to lift the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time since 2008.
Polls open at 7am across West Lothian and will close at 10am on Thursday. Registered voters should have received their poll card advising where to vote.
Voters are reminded that they do NOT need ID to vote in the Holyrood elections this Thursday.
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Polls open at 7am across West Lothian and will close at 10am on Thursday. Registered voters should have received their poll card advising where to vote.
There are now three constituencies covering the county. A new Bathgate constituency covers the northern half alongside the existing Almond Valley constituency around Livingston. The town of Linlithgow has been incorporated into a new East Falkirk and Linlithgow constituency.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service will cover the two counts being held in Livingston and also the Linlithgow one from Falkirk.
Registered postal voters cannot be issued with ballot papers at the polling station, but they can return their completed postal ballot pack to their polling station on polling day by 10pm.
Alternatively, they can hand deliver their postal vote to polling stations in the constituency or to West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston.
The Scottish elections use a proportional system of voting which means that you vote for both a local constituency MSP and for additional regional MSPs.
This means that when you arrive at your designated polling station, you will receive two ballot papers – a constituency ballot paper and a regional ballot paper.
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Your lilac-coloured ballot paper is for your local constituency and will contain a list of candidates running to be your area’s Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP).
Your peach-coloured ballot paper will be used to elect MSPs for your region. On this second ballot paper instead of voting for a specific candidate, you will be asked to cast a vote for a political party.
You must indicate your preferred choice on each paper by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your preferred candidate or party.
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If you put a cross (X) next to more than one box on the ballot paper, your vote will be considered a ‘spoilt ballot’ and will not be counted. Once you have completed your ballot papers, fold and put them into the appropriate ballot box – there will be one ballot box for the constituency vote and another for the regional vote.
Staff in the polling places will be available to provide any support you may need. Arrangements will also be in place in polling stations to assist those with accessibility requirements.
Arrangements are available in the polling stations for voters who need help with reading the ballot paper or marking it. No photos can be taken inside the polling station.
MacDonald had thrown a phone at his victim’s face, which injured her lip and chin.
A man has been jailed after harassing and assaulting his former partner. Ryan MacDonald, 29, of Fen View, Stanground, Peterborough, threatened to smash the victim’s windows and doors on March 21, 2025.
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The victim reported the incident to the police but two days later, she withdrew the complaint because she felt she and MacDonald, who she had a child with, had been getting on better. Three months later, MacDonald started messaging her at work and said he was outside her home.
Even though he was told to leave her alone, he had been waiting nearby her home when she finished work. The victim went with MacDonald to a park out of fear where they had an argument.
A few days later, the victim was collecting her child from school when MacDonald appeared and started shouting at her. He grabbed her phone and threw it at her face, which injured her lip and chin.
Over the course of around a week, MacDonald followed the victim and bombarded her with calls, text messages, and unannounced visits before he was arrested. While he was on bail, he made several calls to the victim to get her to withdraw the charges.
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This led to him being arrested again. On Wednesday, April 29, at Huntingdon Law Courts, MacDonald was sentenced to two years and four months in jail after he pleaded guilty to harassment involving fear of violence, actual bodily harm (ABH), and intimidating a witness or juror.
Counts of stalking involving fear of violence, threats to damage or destroy property, threats to kill, and two counts of assault by beating were ordered to lie on file.
DC Isabelle Wilding, who investigated, said: “MacDonald’s behaviour was persistent, intimidating and left the victim living in fear. This sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions and sends a clear message that harassment and abuse will not be tolerated.
“We take reports of stalking and harassment extremely seriously and would encourage anyone experiencing similar behaviour to come forward and seek support.”
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Ask Jeeves was among the first internet search engines to launch back in 1996, two years before Google (in 1998).
Visitors to the search engine were greeted with the iconic butler character, known as ‘Jeeves’.
Ask Jeeves was rebranded in February 2006, changing its name to Ask.com.
Ask.com shuts down after 30 years
Now, after 30 years, Ask.com has shut down (effective as of May 1, 2026).
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The website says: “Every great search must come to an end.
“As IAC continues to sharpen its focus, we have made the decision to discontinue our search business, which includes Ask.com.
“After 30 years of answering the world’s questions, Ask.com officially closed on May 1, 2026.
“We are deeply grateful to the brilliant engineers, designers, and teams who built and supported Ask over the decades.
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“And to you—the millions of users who turned to us for answers in a rapidly changing world—thank you for your endless curiosity, your loyalty, and your trust.
“Jeeves’ spirit endures.”
Ask.com shut down on May 1, 2026. (Image: Ask.com)
“End of an era” – Internet users saddened by Jeeves’ “retirement”
The closure of Ask.com has hit users hard, with some labelling it the “end of an era”.
One person, posting on the Reddit group r/technology, said: “Ask Jeeves. Such an OG. Enjoy retirement.”
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Another added: “Oh man. End of an era.”
A third user commented: “It’s actually quite amazing the staying power some of these early internet giants despite having fallen out of relevance decades ago. RIP, Jeeves.”
This person posted: “This was the first search engine I ever used when I first came online. Thank you for your service.”
While another fan wrote: “Nooooo, not Jeeves. What’s next, Alta Vista?”
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Do you remember Ask Jeeves? Will you miss the search engine now that it’s shut down? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.
If you saw me at a work meeting, out with friends, or honestly anywhere in the wild, I almost always have my arms crossed. With that being my default stance, you would think I’m a miserable person with a bad attitude. But that is far from the truth (most of the time).
I’m crossing my arms for two reasons: 1) I’m probably cold, and 2) it feels like I’m giving myself a hug, and it feels comforting.
As it turns out, crossed arms is the most commonly misunderstood body language sign, according to experts.
“Most of the time, body language reading is quite accurate; we have to remember it’s only a part of the communication, like tone, choice of words, or, in some cases, touch,” as Stephanie Pappas, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told HuffPost.
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According to Pappas, our reason for judging a person for their body language is evolutionary. Body language was the prominent form of communication and a major survival skill for our ancestors thousands of years ago, she explains. “We were wired to be attuned to those in our tribe, or potential threats, by the way they moved and expressed themselves around us.”
PixelVista via Getty Images
Professional young woman with glasses standing arms crossed in a bright home office, exuding confidence and competence
So while we don’t have to rely as much on body language for communication, our brains might still read body language and create a story.
Turns out, crossed arms aren’t the only thing people are getting wrong. Here’s what experts say about the most overlooked body language signs.
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Here’s what crossed arms actually mean…
While people read crossed arms as being closed off or rude, it’s actually a self-soothing technique for most people, says Pappas. “It’s so easy to cross your arms when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed as a way to try to regulate yourself.”
“The biggest mistake is that we judge too quickly,” Linda Clemons, body language expert and author of HUSH: How to Radiate Power and Confidence Without Saying a Word told HuffPost. “Say my arms are crossed. You think, ‘this person is cold, closed off’ and you walk away. Two seconds later, I reach for my sweater. I was literally cold!”
“But you weren’t there to see it, because you judged so quickly.”
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In other words, my reasons for crossing my arms are totally valid. And so are yours.
It’s not just crossed arms – people are frequently confused by these body language signs, too.
While Pappas and Clemons agree that crossed arms is the top confusing body language sign, eye contact and even smiles leave a lot of room for interpretation.
“Often, eye contact is given a lot of weight for being the signal that shows attention and respect for the other person,” Pappas said. However, reasons for not maintaining eye contact can go beyond rudeness or indifference. For example, in some cultures, it’s considered disrespectful to make eye contact; some people who are neurodivergent also have difficulty making eye contact because it feels overwhelming or uncomfortable.
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Another confusing body language is the smile, according to Clemons. Sometimes people give what Clemon called “a pageant smile,” (AKA a fake smile) because they feel they should be acting like they’re happy.
“People who are truly happy for you, their cheeks will be elevated, and their eyes will be wide,” Clemons said. But with pageant smiles, they’re only using the muscles in their lower faces.
This is how to get better at reading body language cues.
Body language is only a piece of the communication puzzle, says Pappas. “It needs to be taken into consideration with context in order to create as much accuracy as possible.” Here are some tips to better read body language.
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Understand Baseline Behaviour
If you know someone closely, you’ll get a full picture of their mood, personality, and communication style, otherwise known as baseline behaviour, Pappas notes. For example. Say you have a friend who often uses their hands when telling stories, suddenly puts their hands on their lap; That may mean a shift in their emotions or mood.
Understanding the person’s baseline was necessary to interpret their non-verbal cues in that context, adds Clemons. “Say we’re at a funeral, we’re paying our respects. Everyone’s expression is very somber, but one person is smiling,” she describes. “It’s the wrong non-verbal cue for this context, so you probably think something is very off with this person. But then maybe someone tells you this person always smiles when they are nervous, or overwhelmed.”
Knowing a person’s reactions to situations can offer better clarity on how to proceed, too.
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Look At Behaviours In Clusters
Another thing to pay attention to is to look at behaviour in clusters, according to Clemons. “If the arms are crossed, the tone of voice is dismissive, and the person’s shoulders or feet are turned away, it’s more likely that they really don’t want to be talking to you.”
Congruency is also key, she adds. The words people speak should match their tone and body language. “If I say to my spouse, ‘I want to make this marriage work,’ but I fold my arms and my tone of voice is not congruent with my words, I may be headed out the door,” Clemons said.
Understand Intuition Versus Anxiety
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One of the best things you can do when reading body language is learning to distinguish between intuition and anxiety, says Pappas. When you’re overly focused on analysing someone’s signals, you can drop out of the parts of the brain that help connect and communicate (and spiral into anxious storytelling instead).
“Anxiety might tell you, ‘Look at the way they’re standing there, they’re so angry with you, what did you do now?’” Pappas explained. “Whereas intuition is usually an unconscious, nonjudgmental piece of information that helps you make productive decisions.”
In other words, anxiety builds a dramatic narrative while intuition delivers a quiet, neutral signal. The latter is worth listening to, especially in situations where safety is a concern. “Paying attention to your gut feeling, especially in a situation where safety may be a concern, is a skill that our bodies have honed to keep us alive,” Pappas said.
Emergency services raced to the property in Haslingden, Lancashire, where a car had left the carriageway and collided with the side of a house, killing a man and injuring two teens
A man has been killed and two teenage girls are severely injured after a car ploughed into a house in Lancashire.
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Emergency services raced to Helmshore Road in Haslingden on Monday night, with police arriving to find a VW Golf which had left the carriageway and smashed into the side of the property.
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