Explained as easy as pie

Funny noise: why we need to burp

Burping loudly in front of others is considered impolite in Europe.

(Bild: Manuel Tennert/stock.adobe.com)

Especially after drinking a carbonated beverage, we feel the need to burp. What exactly happens in the body before the loud noise escapes from the mouth - hopefully unintentionally - is explained below in simple terms for you or your children.

Oops, burping out loud is quite embarrassing for most people. Especially when a clearly audible sound escapes - and others nearby can hear it. You're probably familiar with the term "burping".

How ithappens
 When we burp, air simply makes its way out. Because everything we eat and drink either contains air or is accompanied by it. The meeting point is the stomach. For example, you eat a slice of pizza and imperceptibly swallow a little air.

But food itself also consists of gases and air. Most of it is present in carbonated drinks. A particularly large amount of air also gets into the stomach when we are busy feasting or talking a lot while eating. A pulpy mass then forms in the stomach. The air bubbles leave the pulp and burst. This air collects and presses against the stomach walls. If a lot of it accumulates, a muscle between the oesophagus and stomach opens briefly.

Happy air migration
The air travels up the esophagus. At the same time, the muscle that closes the entrance to the oesophagus in the mouth also opens. The air then passes the vocal cords and triggers the belching sound with the resulting vibration of the cords. The more air escapes and the more the mouth is open, the louder the burp becomes. Incidentally, some of the air also travels through the intestines and comes out "down" again - as a fart, fart or intestinal wind, whatever you call it.

Burping on purpose - is that possible?
Yes, some people can burp on purpose: They swallow a lot of air to do this, but before it even reaches the stomach, it travels straight back up the esophagus. Some people help by quickly drinking a large glass of lemonade, for example. However, this only works if you are sitting or standing upright, not lying down.

Different countries, different customs
While you get a dirty look here if you make a loud burping noise, in China it is perfectly acceptable to burp after eating. There, it is considered a sign that the food has tasted good. If you didn't burp after a meal, the host would be very offended. By the way, smacking, slurping and talking with your mouth full are also permitted there.