Written by Chad Birt on Wed Jun 18 2025.
For millions of individuals living with dysphagia, the medical term for swallowing difficulties, even a simple act like drinking water can pose significant daily challenges and health risks. When the natural ability to swallow becomes compromised—often due to age-related changes in muscles and nerves, recovery from a stroke, or conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's—thin liquids can flow too quickly. This can lead to distressing coughing, choking, or the very serious risk of aspiration pneumonia, where liquid enters the lungs.
This is where thick water and thickened liquids become not just helpful, but often essential. By carefully modifying the texture of beverages, thick water provides a vital solution, allowing for safer, more comfortable hydration. It helps slow the liquid down, giving the person more time to manage the swallow and significantly reducing dangers. For those managing dysphagia, this adaptation can restore confidence during mealtimes and ensure they receive the hydration crucial for health and well-being. Understanding the profound impact of dysphagia is the first step in appreciating how critical thick water can be.
Thick water is a beverage specifically designed for people with dysphasia. You can purchase pre-thickened water or you can thicken drinking water at home with over-the-counter thickening agents or powder.
Increasing the viscosity of thin liquids, like water, makes them easier to swallow. For seniors with a sensitive gag reflex or neurological conditions that make eating and drinking difficult, thick water allows for proper hydration. In addition, it prevents liquid from entering the trachea, allowing for proper digestion and more enjoyable mealtimes.
Anyone who experiences difficulty swallowing can benefit from thickened water. However, before you start administering it to yourself or a loved one, it’s important to consult with a qualified medical professional.
Typically, swallowing issues are diagnosed by a speech-language pathologist. To determine risk, the specialist assesses facial and oral structure and watches the patient eat and drink. If these measures don’t provide enough information, they might also order a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) or a modified barium swallow (MBS).
Some of the most common medical conditions that cause swallowing problems include:
Acid reflux and GERD
Inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis)
Thyroid nodules
Stroke
Spinal cord injuries
You or someone else might also have trouble swallowing if they're living with a neurological condition like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, or dementia.
There are several types of agents used to thicken water, but they fall into two distinct categories:
Starch is a white, tasteless powder that quickly dissolves into various liquids. Starch-based thickeners are easy to mix but require immediate consumption. Left to sit, starch-thickened beverages become increasingly chunky and difficult to swallow.
Gum-based thickeners are made from natural products like xanthan, a type of fermented sugar. Unlike starch thickeners, they have a tendency to clump, so it’s important to mix them thoroughly.
Gum thickeners maintain the same consistency over time, so you can refrigerate or save them for later.
Thickened water tastes very similar to regular tap or bottled water, the only real difference is the consistency. Many people compare its viscosity to aloe vera gel. You can easily pour and swallow thickened water, but its mouthfeel is noticeably more chunky.
Because thickened water contains additives, many people become full quicker than they normally would. To make the transition from thin to thick fluids as easy as possible, start with small glasses.
Thick & Easy® Hydrolyte Thickened Water, Nectar Consistency
Thick & Easy Hydrolyte Thickened Water has a nectar-like consistency and adheres to Level 2 guidelines established by International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI). It’s made from water, high fructose corn syrup, and modified food starch and comes pre-mixed, ready to drink.
Key Benefits & Features:
Refreshing
Easy to swallow
Lightly flavored with lemon
Contains a clear thickener, allowing for a natural tap water appearance
Thick-It® Clear Advantage Thickened Water
Thick-It Clear Advantage thickened water contains only five calories per serving. It’s unflavored, has a nectar-like consistency, and comes pre-packed in bottles, ready for consumption.
Key Benefits & Features:
Made from pure Artesian mineral water
Pre-thickened for the perfect consistency
Easy to mix into hot or cold beverages
Can be combined with powdered milk, broth, or drink mixes
Thick & Easy® Hydrolyte Thickened Water, Honey Consistency
Thick & Easy Hydrolyte thickened water comes in three different sizes –– cups, bottles, and containers. It’s lightly flavored with lemon and boasts a honey-like consistency that adheres to Level 3 guidelines established by IDDSI.
Key Benefits & Features:
Refreshing
Easy to swallow
Lemon flavored
Contains a clear thickener, allowing for a natural tap water appearance
Thick-It® Food & Drink Thickener, Unflavored
Thick-It brand thickening agents have been on the market for more than 30 years. This particular product is corn-starch based and easy to mix into almost any beverage, including water. You can add more or less to change the consistency of your loved one’s favorite drinks.
Key Benefits & Features:
Dissolves instantly
Helps reduce the risk of choking and aspiration
Gluten-free
Kosher Parve
Easy to digest
Customer review of Thick-It® Food & Drink Thickener, Unflavored: "I have been experiencing dysphasia and repeated coughing when drinking liquids and some foods and often have a procedure done every two to three years by a gastroenterologist to stretch my throat. This thickener has helped to make my life a whole lot easier and more comfortable since to have been using it." - Christie B.
Caring for a loved one who has difficulty swallowing presents a variety of challenges. Selecting the right thickener can be a daunting task, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the various brands, product offerings, and consistencies.
We understand, which is why our friendly Care Team is easy to get a hold of. Contact them via phone at (800) 696-CARE or send an email to support@carewell.com.
By serving your loved one meals with a soft, pudding-like consistency, it’s possible to provide them with the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need while lowering the risk of choking or digestive issues.
To determine if pureed foods are right for your senior, it’s important to know a little bit about them.
In this blog, we’ll discuss food, drink, and liquid thickeners in depth, including what they are, who can benefit from them, and where to buy them.
Read More >Chad Birt is a freelance medical writer who resides in Astoria, Oregon. When he isn't behind a keyboard, you can find him hiking, camping, or birdwatching with his wife Ella and their two dogs, Diane and Thoreau.
