Swallowing is the process of moving food or drink from the mouth to the stomach. When you take a bite or sip, your tongue pushes the food to the back of your throat. This action triggers a reflex that helps close off the airway, ensuring that what you swallow goes down the esophagus instead of into the trachea. Once the food reaches the esophagus, a series of muscle contractions called peristalsis helps push it down to the stomach. This process is essential for digestion, allowing your body to break down and absorb nutrients from the food you eat.