Children sometimes develop cavities as they are learning to brush their teeth effectively. Even if the cavity is in a baby tooth that may eventually be shed, it is still beneficial to have the cavity filled. An untreated cavity can worsen until a painful infection occurs, which can spread to the neighboring teeth. Having a tooth pulled before it is naturally shed allows the other teeth to shift out of place and block the permanent tooth from coming in correctly. A simple cavity filling can prevent a wide variety of dental problems and is the recommended treatment option.