Hi @drupoint my name is Rickey and I have been self dilating for about a year. To answer you question yes as you lower the bougie into your mouth and throat as you get the tapered in down into your throat or past your tongue you swallow to make sure it goes into esophagus instead of wind pipe. After or as you swallow and lower a little further if you aren't sure you can swallow again and lower some more. In this whole year I have only got it in the airway once and I knew immediately so it never actually went into the wind pipe. I just pulled it back a little and swallowed and lowered again. It really isn't as hard to get it going down the right way. If you gag its okay just don't pull it out. Relax and start lowering again. You can breathe as you go so no rush. Sometimes I go all the way with one gag and sometimes I may gag 3 times. It helps me and I am glad I gave it a try. Hope this helps.