The most common noises that occur from your TMJ is clicking or crunching. Both indicate that the piece of cartilage that acts as a buffer between your jaw and skull, is not in the correct position. The cartilage known as the disc, is supposed to follow and guide your jaw as you open and close similar to cartilage in your knees and shoulders, to prevent from one bone to rub on the other bone. When one bone starts to contact another, you will develop a painful condition commonly known as arthritis. When the disc cannot follow the jaw correctly as indicated by noises, it will also rapidly decline in condition. Which eventually will quicken the chances of developing pain.