Gag

A gag is a device that restricts speech. The best-known version is the ball gag, a ball held in the mouth by a strap, but there are also bit gags, ring gags, cloth gags or simple strips of fabric. It’s part of bondage and one of the most recognisable objects in BDSM imagery.

Why people enjoy it

Taking away someone’s voice is a highly symbolic gesture: the person wearing the gag can’t protest, comment or negotiate during the scene, and this heightens the sense of surrender. For some it’s also a matter of aesthetics. The dominant, on the other hand, has to learn to read the body instead of words.

Safety

A gag makes it impossible to say the safeword, which is why it requires more care than it might seem:

• the nose must always be clear: no gags with a cold, allergies or a blocked nose;
• agree beforehand on a non-verbal signal, such as dropping an object held in the hand or tapping three times, and try it out;
• a person wearing a gag is never left alone, not even briefly;
• it shouldn’t be too tight or kept on for long, because it tires the jaw: take frequent breaks;
• heavy salivation is normal, and can be managed with a towel and with the head in a comfortable position;
• if nausea, coughing or breathlessness appear, remove it immediately;
• keep safety shears within reach if the gag has straps or buckles that are hard to open.

Choose a gag of the right size, made of a material that is safe for contact with the mouth and easy to wash. Never improvised objects that could be swallowed or that cover the nose.