Washing out mouth with soap

Washing out mouth with soap is a form of physical punishment. It is most commonly administered to children for actions such as cursing, lying, or talking back. It is considered symbolic of cleansing out a dirty mouth but is used primarily because some people feel that the foul taste of soap is an effective deterrent to unacceptable behavior. It was a common method of punishment in the first half of the 20th century but has declined in popularity significantly since the 1960s. Historically, it has been practiced primarily in the United Kingdom, Australia and United States. Today it is a controversial practice, with some parents, child experts, and other persons who spend time around children practicing and/or advocating for it, others refusing the practice, and some even opposing its use by others. Opposition to this punishment has grown in recent decades as its use has declined.

Procedure

The essence of washing out mouth with soap is to place soap (or another cleansing agent) inside a person's mouth so that the person will taste it, inducing what most people consider an unpleasant experience. One of the most common methods uses a bar of soap which is placed in a person's mouth; often the person is then forced to hold it for a period of time and/or swallow it. Liquid soap, dishwashing liquid, or certain other liquid or solid cleansers may be used; in the case of liquids the person may be forced to swallow or to swish the liquid in his or her mouth for a period of time. The used product may also be brushed onto a person's teeth and/or oral soft tissues using a toothbrush. Washing out mouth with soap is generally not intended to cause death or lasting harm; therefore agents which are more than slightly toxic or caustic, such as automatic dishwasher detergents, generally are not used.

Controversy

This punishment still has advocates today, even though its use has diminished considerably in recent years in favour of discipline methods that are not considered violent or humiliating. Additionally, soaps and detergents can have potentially harmful results, especially if swallowed, including vomiting, diarrhea, irritation of the lining of the mouth and digestive tract, and in rare instances, pulmonary aspiration. A teacher in Rochester, New York was suspended in 2004 for washing out the mouth of a student for using vulgar language, but was reinstated after parents and family members of her students signed a petition supporting her actions.^[1] In 2009, a mother in Palm Bay, Florida and her boyfriend were arrested for washing her daughter's mouth out with soap after taking the child to the hospital because of vomiting.^[2]

See also

• Hotsaucing
• Castor oil
• Punishment
• School discipline
• Detergents
• Parenting
• Child discipline

References

1. ^ Teacher suspended for washing student's mouth out with soap. By Ben Dobbin, Associated Press Writer. CBSNEWYORK.COM, June 10, 2004.
2. ^ Mom Arrested for Washing Kid's Mouth With Soap. By Todd Wright, Associated Press Writer. NBCMiami.Com, Oct 14, 2009.