A BDSM gag is a device used in or over the mouth. It is considered a form of bondage as it stifles speech and mouth breathing.
A BDSM gag can be for aesthetic purposes and not obstruct breath or speech at all. It can also be fully functional and part of humiliation, sadomasochism, bondage and discipline, punishment, degradation, and other forms of BDSM and related role plays and games.
Read: 5 Domination and Submission Games to Play
Why are Gags Used in BDSM?
BDSM gags are usually worn as part of bondage, to show dominance and submission. A BDSM gag is a kind of restraint. A gag can be part of humiliation fetishes, symbolic or functional at stifling speech and autonomy.
Some sadists or dominants get aroused by the visual effect of someone wearing a gag. For others, it is part of the elaborate ritual play. Wearing a BDSM gag can increase the feeling of fear, vulnerability, and powerlessness that is part of submission in a power exchange relationship dynamic.
15 Types of BDSM Gags
1. Ball Gag
A ball gag is a BDSM gag made out of rubber or silicone, with a ball attached to a strap. It is placed behind the teeth. This kind of BDSM gag makes it impossible to speak legibly. It also fully obstructs air flow through throat and causes drooling.
Read: Rubber Fetish: A Kink for Rubber Clothes & More
2. Wiffle Gag
The wiffle gag is a kind of ball gag, but it uses a light plastic ball. This is a much safer BDSM gag because it allows some airflow to the throat.
Read: RACK, PRICK, and Other BDSM Safety Protocols
3. Spider Gag
This BDSM gag is called a spider gag because it sort of resembles a spider, with an O-ring placed behind the teeth, holding the mouth open, and usually four arms extending out past the cheeks and then strapped from behind. The spider gag is useful because it allows access to the mouth and allows full air flow.
4. Gag with Head Harness
The BDSM gag with head harness is usually a ball-gag style or spider gag, but it comes attached to a head harness. This is part of the bondage aesthetic and is a matter of preference. It may come with bondage attachments, allowing the head to be bound to BDSM furniture.
Read: 10 BDSM Furniture Ideas for Your Home Dungeon
5. Penis Gag
The penis gag is sometimes called the pecker gag. It is a BDSM gag that uses a cock-shaped piece of rubber or silicone. This is extreme or advanced BDSM—the cock can choke the submissive and it fully obstructs the air ways.
Read: Extreme BDSM: 24 Examples of Hardcore BDSM
6. Pony Bit Gag
The bit gag is a BDSM gag that is very similar to the kind of bit used to control horses. It is a leather or silicone bar that is worn across the mouth and between the teeth of the submissive.
The big gag is a favorite of pony play fetishists, but it is also very popular with anyone else who enjoys gag play. A bit gag has a certain aesthetic that is very appealing in BDSM. It also allows more air in throat and the person wearing it can speak more than with ball gags.
Read: Best in Show: Pony Play Accessories
7. Muzzle Gag
A muzzle is a BDSM gag that fits over the mouth and sometimes the mouth chin, and nose. It restricts movements of the mouth and jaw. This style is associated with gags used on vicious animals. Wearing a muzzle gag intended to restrain a dog is part of the humiliation for some submissives or sadists.
Read: Sadomasochism: Sadism and Masochism in BDSM
8. Funnel Gag
A funnel gag is a BDSM gag with a funnel attached to it. The idea is enforced consumption of liquids, which may include urine for fetishists into humiliation and golden showers. It is very easy to choke so the BDSM funnel gag should be used with extreme caution.
Read: 5 Piss Play Ideas for Kinky Lovers
9. Dental Mouth Gag
Dental mouth gags can be used as BDSM gags, especially for those into medical kinks as well as sadomasochism or bondage.
The Whitehead and the Jennings are two dental medical gags used to keep a patient’s mouth open during dental work or surgery.
Read: Medical Fetish and the Allure of Medical Kinks
10. Inflatable Gag
An inflatable gag is a rubber balloon and a ring anchor that comes with a hand pump to increase the amount of air in the gag and its size.
11. Fabric Gag
A scarf or bandana can be tied across someone’s mouth, or in between their teeth like a bit. A sock rolled up is sometimes used as a kind of BDSM ball gag.
Stuffing someone’s mouth with fabric is dangerous and can be a choking hazard. A fabric gag across the mouth on the outside of the face is usually quite safe unless it is synthetic fabric tied very tightly.
Read: Clothing Fetish: Fabric, Clothing, and Costume Kinks
12. Open Mouth Gag
An open mouth gag is a BDSM gag designed to hold the mouth open, such as the spider gag.
Some open mouth gags are intended for spreading the mouth wide.
They come with metal claws that adjust to “spread” the submissive’s mouth wide open. This gag is for fetishists who are aroused by a wide open mouth or who find this extra humiliating.
Read: Mouth Fetish: 10 Mouth Play Kinks and Ideas
13. Butterfly Gag
The butterfly gag is a BDSM gag that is wing shaped.
14. Cleave Gag
The cleave gag is also a piece of fabric such as a scarf or leather, but it is used rolled up between the teeth like a bit.
Read: How to Be a Good Submissive for a Dom
15. Duct Tape Gag
Tape around the house can work as an effective gag, and it’s handy improvisational quality is why it’s popularly used in abduction movies.
People with consensual non-consensual fantasies like kidnapping may prefer tape to a BDSM gag because it is realistic to their role play.
Duct tape can cause choking and pain at removal, so use with caution.
Read: Sexual Roleplay: A Guide for Roleplay Beginners
BDSM Gag Safety Tips
Gag play can be an essential part of bondage. It can also be very dangerous. Learn everything you can before proceeding, and keep communication open between dom and sub at all times.
Ensure Breathing Isn’t Affected
Even if someone can breathe through their nose, they still need their throat airways. They could develop stuffiness or suffer an allergy episode.
It is easy to choke even if only one airway is obstructed. So don’t just ensure breathing is okay at the start, but constantly monitor it. Use open gags or bit gags that allow submissive full control of air path.
Read: BDSM Breath Play Basics
Use Hand Signals
Most gags cause speech to be muffled or impossible. A safe word doesn’t work. Some kinky lovers use grunting signals instead during BDSM gag play. Hand signals are a better bet.
Read: BDSM Hand Signals and When To Use Them
Don’t Leave Your Sub Gagged and Bound Alone
Never leave someone gagged without supervision, not even for a few minutes.
Wash Your Gags
Gags harbor bacteria, so make sure to wash or sanitize them before and after BDSM gag play.
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