For instance, if dentures do not fit well, the person tends to swallow more saliva, which carries air bubbles with it. Therefore, dentures should be fitted properly. If postnasal discharge is present, patients tend to swallow more often, carrying more air to the stomach. A nasal decongestant may help alleviate this problem. Smoking a cigar or pipe may also increase the amount of saliva produced and swallowed, contributing to excess gas.
Some patients have a nervous habit of belching frequently.
To do this, they swallow air, which they then belch. Unfortunately, the patient seldom is able to belch out all of the swallowed air, thus producing intestinal gas. Rapid eating increases the amount of air that people swallow. Patients should pace their eating and chew each bite thoroughly. Gum chewing and sucking on hard candies also increase the amount of air swallowed.