Why is my hamster squeaky?

My hamster was very quiet. She is a dwarf hamster and is pretty old. Her energy seems fine and is eating and sleeping well. But ever since a few days ago, she's been more squeaky than usual. About twice a day she has her little squeaking section. Sometimes while doing something, sometimes while biting the cage bars(Can't figure out why she bites the bars but she's been doing it ever since we got her. A separate worry because I feel like she may be accidentally ingesting paint chips.) But when she has a squeaking session, she either just stops by herself within a dozen seconds, or if I give her something to eat she just forgets about the squeaking. I'm worried she may be in pain since she's old and her littermates have a history of cancer and proness to other minor diseases. What could this be? Is there anything I can check on first without going to a vet yet?