In case you haven’t noticed, eating ass has quickly become commonplace in bedrooms all around the world. An sex act that was once considered kinky or even vile is now part of the repertoires of people who consider their sex lives fairly vanilla. Some even consider it a love language.

Whether you call it rimming, tossing salad, or the medically proper term analingus, knowing how to eat ass like a pro can give you some crucial bonus points in the bedroom. So why is eating ass all the rage these days? And more importantly, how can you rim jobs enjoyable for yourself and/or your partner?

Let’s get to the bottom of this. Pun totally intended.

The Normalization of Eating Ass

Up until about a decade ago, buttholes were the forbidden fruit of oral sex. You may remember season one of The Sopranos (1999) where Tony busts his Uncle Junior’s balls for the innocent act of going down on his lady friend. God forbid if he munched on her butt.

The paradigm began to shift in the 2010s, though. Now there are entire porn sites dedicated to rimming, pop stars sing about it, podcasters discuss it openly, and per our research, nearly 9,000 people Google “how to eat ass” every month.

Perhaps eating ass is so appealing (at least to some people) because it was once taboo. Just like telling kids not to eat cookies before dinner makes them crave cookies, telling adults eating ass is shameful makes them crave the booty.

On a more practical level, rim jobs feel amazing for the recipient, so it makes sense that selfless partners are happy to do the deed. That’s because the anal area has countless sensitive nerve endings that can be stimulated with your tongue. 

Lastly, eating ass is great foreplay and a fair compromise for couples who aren’t into penetrative anal sex, but still want to do butt stuff.

Enough theorizing, let’s get you and your partner prepped to feast on each other’s backsides.

How to Prepare for a Rim Job

It’s essential for whoever’s on the receiving end of anilingus to have a pristine undercarriage before their partner chows down. That starts with thoroughly washing the butt crack, perineum (the space between the rectum and genitals) and of course the butthole itself.

Ideally, you and your partner should shower before engaging in ass eating, especially if you’ve had a bowel movement recently. If they don’t have time to bathe, the least you can do is offer a flushable wet wipe to remove any trace amounts of poop and booty sweat. 

A clean butthole will help your partner feel less self-conscious, especially if it’s their first time. But anal hygiene also prevents the transferring of salmonella, E. coli, and other harmful bacteria. If you want to play it super safe, use a dental dam which protects against herpes, Hepatitis A, syphilis, and other STIs.

When you eat ass, your primary focus will be the surface area of the anus and the surrounding area—you’re not digging for gold with your tongue. Accordingly, there’s no need for your partner to do an enema or a full douche. Nevertheless, if you’re nervous how your partner’s booty will taste, get some flavored lube for the occasion.

Depending on your preferences, you might also ask your partner to trim, shave, or wax the hair around their butthole. If you’re a dude on the receiving end, don’t ask your partner to eat your ass until you’ve read our comprehensive guide to manscaping. 

How to Eat Ass

If you’ve never eaten your partner’s asshole before, the first thing you need to do is get explicit permission to do so. This is sensitive territory, so don’t sneak up (or down, rather) on your their b-hole. It might feel awkward to ask, but it’s common courtesy.

If you get the green light, follow these tips for a one-way ticket to pleasure town.

The Best Positions for Eating Ass

Both of you need to be comfortable for this experience to flow seamlessly. Here are four dependable ass-eating positions.

Spread Eagle: This is the same position you’d use to perform traditional oral sex on your partner, except you’re going a couple inches further south. You may need to prop their pelvis with a pillow to get a better angle.

Doggy Style: If you want an unobstructed view of the goods, you won’t beat doggy style. Your partner’s face is down, but your face is between their cheeks.

Face sitting: As the name implies, your partner straddles your face to align their butt with your mouth. They can also do a reverse face-sit, where the receiver is facing away from you. Either way, propping your head up with a pillow will make this easier.

69: This is where your partner performs oral on you while you eat their booty—a mutually beneficial position, indeed.

Ass Eating Tips

Once you’re both comfortable, it’s time to put that tongue to use.

Start Slow: There’s no need to get aggressive right off the bat—you’re not Joey Chestnut. Warm up by moving your tongue in a slow, circular motion around the anus, like you’re licking an ice cream cone. 

Use the Whole Surface of Your Tongue: Rather than jabbing around with your tongue, relax and flatten it. The larger the surface area, the more wetness and pressure you give with every lick.

Switch Up Your Speed and Direction: Avariety of tongue speeds and motions makes for a great rimjob. Try circles, figure-eights, or writing the alphabet with your tongue, alternating the speed every minute or so.

Bring a Sex Toy into the Mix: As you lick the butt, stimulate your partner’s clitoris with a dildo or vibrator. Some people enjoy masturbating while receiving rim jobs, so give your partner room to pleasure themselves.

Keep It Clean

Once the feast is over, make sure you rinse with mouthwash to kill any germs and freshen your breath. As you look at yourself in the mirror, do you feel naughty or do you have the confidence of a king? Perhaps both. 

Either way, if this becomes a regular part of your sex life, make sure you have wipes ready for whenever you crave the booty.