Hey, Eat and drink slowly. Taking your time can help you swallow less air. Avoid carbonated drinks and beer. They release carbon dioxide gas. Skip the gum and hard candy. When you chew gum or suck on hard candy, you swallow more often than normal. Part of what you're swallowing is air. Don't smoke. When you inhale smoke, you also inhale and swallow air. Check your dentures. Poorly fitting dentures can cause you to swallow excess air when you eat and drink. Treat heartburn. For occasional, mild heartburn, over-the-counter antacids or other remedies may be helpful. GERD may require prescription-strength medication or other treatments.