G is for Gags

G is for Gags

An important part of many people's BDSM play is the use of gags. Personally, I don't use them much because half my fun is eliciting noises and I don't want to hamper that. They can be used to keep the bottom quiet, for aesthetic/fantasy reasons, or humiliation. Gags are also used in PetPlay, especially ponyplay to help the pet player get into the proper headspace. Gags in the form of pacifiers are often used in AB/DL play as well.

First, we'll talk about keeping the "victim" quiet. Most people don't have access to specially appointed play spaces with no neighbors or soundproofing. So it's simply practical to use gags to muffle some of the noises that may be created during a scene. Another reason people use gags is for the look of them. The bottom may have a fetish for being "forced" into a gag, the top may have a fetish for seeing someone gagged.

Gags are commonly used for humiliation also. A bottom who cannot close their mouth fully, cannot swallow, and so drools, which many find slightly humiliating. Gags can also be used to hold the mouth open wider than normal to allow for insertion of whatever the top and bottom have agreed to without the bottom having much say in it. (Puns!) Piss players often use funnel gags, for example. Gags can also be used for humiliation when they're penis shaped or shaped like random objects. I've seen one that made the submissive look like she was eating a hamburger.

In pet play, a gag may take the form of a mouth bit for horses or a bone shape for puppies. Puppies or wolves, or other "dangerous" animal pet players may even use muzzles, which isn't a gag per se but I'll include it here. In adult baby play the gag may be a pacifier that cannot be removed or be infantile with pictures of cartoon characters.  

Another reason players might use gags is for breath play. Breath play is very dangerous and should only be done by people who have a deep level of trust and who are extremely careful. Saran wrap or duct tape over the mouth, full head hoods, inflatable gags, and gas masks are often used for this type of play.

Regardless of what type of gag you choose to use the bottom/sub/victim probably isn't going to be able to speak clearly or at all so it's important to have a physical safe word in place. Examples of physical or non-verbal safe words are: 

• the bottom holding a ball which they can drop if safewording, a bell can also be used for a more noticeable gesture
• the bottom holding their hand in a fist and releasing that fist when they wish to be released
• making a pre-arranged pattern of grunts, head nods, blinks, or foot stomping
• humming which can be done with the mouth open

The top should check in with the bottom regularly also.

To sum it up, there are many gags and many reasons to use them. Explore and find what works for you and your partner(s).