Swallowing facts for kids

A side view of the mouth and throat

A Pelican swallowing a fish

Swallowing is how food, drinks, or even your own saliva move from your mouth down into your stomach. It's a super important action that happens many times a day without you even thinking about it!

What is Swallowing?

Swallowing is the process where something you put in your mouth travels through your throat and into your food pipe. This food pipe is called the esophagus. It's like a special pathway for food and drinks.

How Does Swallowing Work?

When you swallow, many parts of your body work together.

• First, you chew your food into a soft ball. This ball of food or drink is called a bolus.
• Then, your tongue pushes the bolus to the back of your mouth.
• As the bolus moves, a small flap called the epiglottis quickly closes. The epiglottis acts like a lid. It covers your windpipe, which is called the trachea.
• Closing the epiglottis is very important. It stops food or drink from going down the wrong tube. If food goes into your windpipe, you might start choking.
• After the epiglottis closes, the bolus slides safely into your esophagus. Muscles in the esophagus then push the food down to your stomach.

Why is Swallowing Important?

Swallowing is a key part of eating and drinking. It makes sure that the food and liquids you consume get to your stomach where they can be digested. This process usually happens automatically, thanks to a special "swallowing reflex" in your body.

See also

In Spanish: Deglución para niños