How to Use Food Thickeners: A Caregiver’s Guide to Safer Swallowing

May 21, 2025

When a loved one has difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), even simple sips of water can pose a serious risk. That’s where food and fluid thickeners come in — helping to slow down liquid flow and reduce the risk of choking or aspiration.

But using thickeners correctly can be tricky. Too much or too little, and the texture can become unsafe or unpleasant. In this guide, we’ll walk through how caregivers can confidently use thickeners — and accurately test the final result using the IDDSI Funnel.

💧 Why Use Thickeners?

People with dysphagia may struggle to control thin liquids, which can “go down the wrong way” and lead to coughing, choking, or even pneumonia. Thickened drinks move more slowly and are easier to control, making swallowing safer.

🧂 Too Much? Too Little? Here’s the Balance

Getting the texture right is key:

Too thin: still a choking risk
Too thick: difficult or uncomfortable to swallow

Common caregiver challenges:

“It’s lumpy or keeps separating.”
“The same amount doesn’t work for every drink.”
“The texture keeps changing over time.”

Tips to overcome this:

Start with cold or room temperature liquids — they mix better.
Use a whisk or shaker and stir well.
Let it stand for 1–2 minutes to allow full thickening.
Test it with an IDDSI Funnel — a standardised and simple tool for checking thickness.

🧪 How to Use the IDDSI Funnel

The IDDSI Funnel is the gold standard for testing drink thickness across five levels — and it’s easy to use at home.

🔹 What You Need:

An IDDSI Funnel
Stopwatch or timer
15 mL of the thickened drink

🔹 How to Test:

Plug the funnel with your finger or cap.
Pour 15 mL of your thickened liquid into the funnel.
Release your finger and let it flow out for exactly 10 seconds.
Stop the flow and measure how much is left in the funnel.

IDDSI Level	Liquid Remaining After 10s
Level 0 – Thin	0 mL
Level 1 – Slightly Thick	1–4 mL
Level 2 – Mildly Thick	4–8 mL
Level 3 – Moderately Thick	8–10 mL
Level 4 – Extremely Thick	No flow (holds shape in funnel)

This method removes the guesswork and gives you confidence that your loved one is getting the right texture every time.

🌟 Practical Tips for Caregivers

“My loved one finds it unpleasant.”
Flavour matters. Try using naturally thicker fluids (like fruit purées, milky teas, or soups) and experiment with gum-based thickeners which are smoother than starch-based ones.

“I don’t know which level to use.”
Always follow the recommendations from a speech-language therapist or swallowing specialist. They’ll assess the safest level for your loved one.

“It keeps thickening after I serve it.”
That’s common with starch-based thickeners. Prepare in small amounts, or chill the drink to slow down the thickening process.

💬 Final Thoughts

Using thickeners might feel like a big change, but with the IDDSI Funnel and a bit of practice, you’ll quickly build confidence. You’re not just adjusting drinks — you’re protecting your loved one’s dignity, health, and independence.

And remember: if something doesn’t seem quite right, consult your speech therapist. They’ll guide you through the texture levels and help you build a mealtime routine that’s both safe and enjoyable.