Hey! When food enters the lungs instead of the esophagus, it affects breathing and can cause choking and other problems. The structures inside the mouth and neck each have a distinct role in breathing, speaking and swallowing. The swallowing mechanism is a complex process that, when it works properly, moves food to the esophagus for transport to the stomach. Dozens of muscles and nerves work to move food in the right direction. A piece of cartilage called the epiglottis plays a key role in ensuring that food does not enter the windpipe or the lungs. Hope this helps!