Wellbore tools may use carbon nanoforests to reduce the access of abrasive particles to compressible sealing elements of joints of the wellbore tool. In some instances, a wellbore tool may include a joint comprising two elements having opposing mating surfaces that define a gap; a compressible sealing element arranged between the opposing mating surfaces and configured to seal a portion of the gap, thereby defining a sealed segment and an unsealed segment of the gap; and at least one carbon nanoforest disposed within at least a portion of the unsealed segment and coupled to at least one of the opposing mating surfaces.