Gag is a BDSM accessory used to prevent the submissive person (sub) from speaking. You can find gags in various sizes and shapes, from simple balls and bars to those shaped like a dog's chew bone.
If you are a beginner, we recommend choosing a smaller gag that fits nicely in the mouth and allows for easy breathing even with the gag in place. Alternatively, you can choose a gag with holes for easier breathing.
A gag is a device that you place in or on the mouth of a submissive person, thus impairing their ability to speak clearly (but not completely stopping sound production). It is often used in combination with ropes, handcuffs, and straps for bondage activities, with the intent of making the submissive person even more helpless and giving the dominant partner more control.
There are many different types of gags suited for various occasions. Therefore, discuss with your partner to decide which toy suits you best according to your experience and the type of play you want to engage in with the gag.
The most commonly used are gags with a silicone or plastic ball (commonly referred to in all languages as ball gag). These are placed in the mouth behind the teeth, and straps secure the toy around the head so it doesn't accidentally slip into the throat. Rest assured, with proper use of a quality and undamaged gag, the slipping of the ball into the throat is practically impossible.
If you decide to buy a ball gag, choose one with an appropriate diameter. Too large balls can cause pain in the gums and jaws, and if the gag is too small, it won't have its effect, will move around in the mouth, thereby increasing the risk of knocking out a tooth or slipping too deep into the mouth. You can also choose between balls with holes that make breathing through the mouth easier, and those without any holes.
Very similar to ball gags are phallic gags or multi-ball gags. They are placed just like a ball gag, except the silicone or plastic part in the mouth is longer and shaped like a penis. These gags, due to reaching deeper into the mouth and lacking holes for easy breathing, are not the most suitable for your first gag.
Bit gag is a gag that we bite into. It prevents speaking through a bar made of soft silicone, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your or your partner's teeth. Visually, it resembles a horse bridle. Because of this, it is very popular among those who practice pony play.
Inflatable gags made of latex are inflated with an attached pump after being placed in the mouth. They gradually expand and eventually completely fill the submissive person's mouth. This toy completely prevents speaking and slightly suffocates any sound production, while also preventing breathing through the mouth, so use this accessory very carefully.
With a dildo gag, you turn the submissive person into a usable object. They represent elements of humiliation and objectification of the sub.
Some gags have an attached funnel that leads a tube into the mouth. The sub must then swallow any liquid that is poured into this device. However, when using this gag, be particularly careful to ensure that the submissive person does not choke if they drink too slowly!
Gags with additional straps that are placed over the face and around the neck more securely fix the ball in the mouth. Many of such straps have additional rings to which other bondage equipment, such as leashes and masks, can be attached, taking away the submissive partner's ability to see.
Medical and spider gags, as well as ring gags, widely open the mouth. Speaking is still prevented with these devices because the sub cannot freely close their mouth, yet they can still produce loud sounds. These toys allow the dominant person unrestricted access to the submissive partner's mouth, and are most often used in combination with oral sex.
Muzzles completely cover the lower part of the face (from the nose down), and thus, along with preventing speaking, also significantly silence the person wearing the device.
You can also create a gag yourself: stuff your partner's mouth with a cloth or rope (but be very careful when using these two options and educate yourself beforehand on how to do this safely and without risk of suffocation).
You can also use a bondage tape, which you simply wrap around the mouth and head. Since this tape is not sticky and only sticks to itself, removing this type of gag will not be painful or uncomfortable for the sub. Also, you don’t have to worry about pulling hair, which is inevitable with the discouraged use of regular adhesive tapes.
Because they cannot speak while wearing a gag, the submissive person will not be able to communicate and say the safety word, which means stop.
This does not mean that in scenes involving a gag, no one can or should say the safety word, but it is necessary to agree on a different signal that will immediately end the activity. The person with the gag could hold a bell to ring, or a ball or cloth to drop on the floor when they want to stop the action.
You can also agree on a pattern of three blinks, and if the person is not tied up, they can also tap you on the hand, back, leg...
It is important that you both agree on the signal, remember it, and, of course, respect it without exception!
Larger gags without holes prevent breathing through the mouth, so do not use it on persons with colds or those with many allergies. Caution is also advisable if the gag is worn by a person with asthma or other breathing difficulties.
Even if the submissive person is completely healthy, never leave them unmonitored while wearing a gag. In case of illness (which can be a result of alcohol, drugs, denial of food or water, general exhaustion, etc.), fainting and vomiting can quickly occur, which, if the gag is not removed immediately to free the airway, can lead to suffocation.
If you notice that the gag is damaged, stop using it immediately as such a toy is extremely dangerous and poses a significant risk of suffocation.
Since the gag is a toy placed in or on the mouth, it is a fact that it must be thoroughly cleaned before and after each use. It is easiest to clean it under warm running water with mild soap, or with a toy cleaner.
Avoid using strong cleaners and chemicals, as these can severely irritate the oral mucosa and cause ulcers on it at the next use, or at best will leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth.