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HealthInfo Canterbury

Safe eating & drinking

Grandparents, parents and children enjoy a meal together If you have difficulty with your swallowing, you can be at risk of food or drink entering your airways. There are some things you can do to help to make eating and drinking safer.

If you are caring for someone with cognitive problems caused by a stroke or brain injury, see Easy eating with cognitive problems.

General tips

Swallowing food

Swallowing drinks

Specific tips for you

Try the following suggestions to see if they help. If you still have difficulties, discuss this with your doctor.

Ask if you can do anything else to make eating and drinking easier.

You may also want to access private specialist help.

Written by speech-language therapists, Canterbury DHB. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2020. Last updated November 2020.

Sources

Page reference: 78447

Review key: HISWD-121957