Ingredients:

96 pretzel sticks
1 cup vanilla flavored chips
1 tablespoon solid shortening
12 raisins or chocolate chips

Directions:

On a waxed paper-lined baking sheet, arrange pretzel sticks in groups of eight to resemble spokes of a wheel. In a resealable freezer-weight plastic bag, combine vanilla chips and shortening; seal bag. Immerse bag in a bowl of very hot water for 2 to 3 minutes; gently squeeze bag to mix. Repeat process until all chips have melted. Snip a small corner of the bag and squeeze a dime-sized blob in the center of each group of pretzels to bind them together. Press a raisin (or chocolate chip) in center to resemble spider. Pipe thin circles of melted chips over the pretzels to resemble strands of a web. Refrigerate webs for about 15 minutes or until firm. Carefully remove webs from waxed paper.

For most kids, overflowing bags of Halloween candy are the highlights of the season. But, many of the foods can mean big trouble for trick-or-treaters who wear braces. "If it's sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy, it's a food that anyone wearing braces or retainers should avoid," says Dr. James J. Caveney, president of the AAO.

That's why the AAO has put together tips for a Braces-Safe Halloween including recipes that are easy on the orthodontic gear. For more recipes and tips visit: http://www.braces.org/nohm/recipes.html.