Today on Clunkline we will address a common myth and proceed to debunk it. The myth is that somehow stuff that was previously on the path to being swallowed is no longer acceptable for swallowing upon being returned more or less unaltered to the mouth. In short, we will prove indisputably to you that there is no such thing as “backwash”.
There’s really not a good reason to be worried about backwash in the first place. Most humans under normal circumstances have the capacity to retain fluid once the fluid has been introduced to the oral cavity, so to assume that one has “backwashed” is to also assume that he or she has subpar motor control in the mouth and lips. Still, for the purpose of this study, we’ll assume that a significant enough portion of the population cannot regulate the flow of liquid into and out of their mouths.
First, we will demonstrate a competent person’s drinking process.
