Does swallowing mucus empty your sinuses or back them up? think i got food stuck there tonight (felt it in my nose) and hope swallowing gets rid of it

Post-nasal drip: Post-nasal drip is the sensation that nasal mucous is dripping down the back of your throat. Inside your nose, mucous is being constantly producted and is swept backward to the throat by microscopic hair cells called cilia. The over-production of mucous can occur due to allergy, irritant sensitivity or sinus infections. An examination by a physician might be needed to separate these possibilities.