ABSTRACTThe deglutition of non‐Newtonian liquids introduced into the mouth was studied dynamically by measuring palatal pressure (P) with pressure transducers set at three locations on the palate. The value of P and the swallowing pressure (S) changed only from 100 to 200 g/cm2over the viscosity range 10−2to 101Pa.s. The retaining time (T) and work (W), required for swallowing after the liquid entered the mouth, remained almost constant up to a critical value of 1.0 Pa.s. above which both T and W increased markedly. When the viscosity was low, all of the liquid was swallowed in one deglutition, up to 15 mL volume. Therefore, T was almost constant but S increased with the volume. When the viscosity was high, the liquid was swallowed in several smaller portions. When the volume was high, T increased and S was either constant or it decrea