Constantly Burping? Here's how to stop burping!

When we eat and drink we also consume air in the process. Now, we all know full well that this air needs to come out at some point. Burping is one method of releasing the air, and even though everyone does it and this method is considered less of a big deal than if the air came out from a the other end of the body, it can cause embarrassment to some people.
It is better to let that air out, but if you find yourself in a situation where burping will result in your discomfort you CAN take steps to stop burping.


How to stop burping

When you feel a burp coming, close your mouth. When burping with an open mouth the effect is much louder as the burp comes in full force.
Try and hold in the excess air that was expelled in the burp within your closed mouth for two seconds. Breathe out slowly through  your nose, you might experience a "nose-burp" which usually does not make any noise but might cause your body to move (usually a shudder or a slight jumping of the shoulders) a little but this could quite possibly slip unnoticed.
You can also take precautions such as putting your hand over your mouth to cover up any noise (or an odor!) that might slip out if you open your mouth. If you have opened your mouth try and breathe out slowly to reduce the risk of a loud noise.
If you feel that you can't control the burp that is about to come, you can always leave the room for a minute. Remember to say "excuse me", in case anyone has heard you. 
Remember to take this matter in proportion as at the end of the day we all burp, and we all sometimes wish to stop burping. Either way, we are all in the same boat!


Help with burping-prevention by doing the following:

  • Avoid fizzy drinks and cut down on beer intake.
  • Eat and drink more slowly. When we eat quickly we tend to consume more air as we will usually breath through the mouth. This applies to talking while you eat too!
  • Stop smoking.
  • Try to avoid swallowing air when speaking. This is quite a common problem among many people. The best way to go about it is, when speaking to someone, ask the person you're talking to to signal you whenever you swallow air.
  • Cut down on chewing gum, and whenever you do it make sure you chew with a closed mouth so that you don't consume too much air in the process.
  • Breathe through your nose as much as possible. This will help keep you from swallowing excess air.
  • Pay attention to what you eat. Certain foods can cause certain reactions. For most people it is best to limit foods such as beans, milk, cheese and onions. This example is just a small selection of foods that can lead to more burping incidents, there are many more types of food that can cause burping and keeping a food diary is recommended so that you know which foods promotes more gas in your stomach
  • You may wish to consider taking an over-the-counter medication which will aid to reduce the amount of gas in your stomach.


Please note that if your burping persist to trouble you, you should make an appointment with your doctor to check it. Occasionaly burping can serve as a warning for a health problem. It can be a symptom for a hernia, an ulcer or reflux disease. If you are worried about your burping being related to a health problem than you should consult your doctor.