AN INTERNATIONAL survey has found that 70 per cent of respondents rated bad breath as the biggest turn-off when it came to dating and it seems that celebrities are no exception to this finding.

Recent reports from the UK suggest that Kate Moss's on-again off-again wedding plans with Babyshambles front man Pete Doherty may have more to do with the rocker's battle with oral hygiene than his reported drug problems.

A British newspaper claims that Doherty's bad breath and decayed teeth are the cause of the thwarted wedding plans with Moss recently demanding that he have his breath and teeth sorted.

"Bad breath is turning off people's potential for love," says Dr Geoffrey Speiser, director of the Australian Bad Breath Clinic.

"Kate Moss is not alone when dealing with the issue.

"The sad thing is often people aren't aware that they suffer from bad breath, nor know how to remedy it."

Speiser has helped more than 3000 people increase their chances of love through his treatment of bad breath.

He uses a revolutionary probiotic treatment that was developed by medical experts at the Otago University in New Zealand.

Sufferers first undergo halimetre (bad breath) testing to determine the severity of the problem, before Speiser recommends appropriate treatment.

He says that pre-Valentine's Day was a busy time at the centre.

There are three main causes of bad breath, according to the clinic.

Lifestyle choices: Eating too much protein foods such as cheese and milk, and drinking acidic drinks such as soft drinks and sports drinks, can trigger the growth of bacteria which causes bad breath.

Long-term use of medicines: Ongoing intake of medicines for conditions such as high blood pressure, indigestion and allergies can cause bad breath.

Chronic illness: Post nasal drip and gum disease as well as dry mouth conditions (Sjogren's Syndrome) also have links with bad breath.